COVID-19 infection in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical features and laboratory findings

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to provide a meta-analysis of previously published papers on the COVID-19-related clinical features and laboratory findings in children. Method: This meta-analysis was conducted by using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar. Finally, 32 articles were selected for full-text assessment. Results: The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, and dyspnea. Regarding the combined results of the meta-analysis, fever (46, 95 CI 40-53), cough (37, 95 CI 29-46), diarrhea (19, 95 CI 9-28), and pharyngalgia (13, 95 CI 5-20) were the most widely reported symptom. Besides, positive RT-PCR test results (43, 95 CI 33-53), low oxygen saturation (38, 95 CI 25-51), and elevated D-dimer levels (36, 95 CI 16-56) were the most common laboratory findings. Conclusion: This review found that clinical presentations were milder, the prognosis was better, and the mortality rate was lower in children with COVID-19 compared with adult patients; however, children are potential carriers, like adults, and can transmit the infection among the population. Therefore, early identification and intervention in pediatric patients with COVID-19 are essential in order to control the pandemic. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were more common symptoms among children. (C) 2021 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.