Caracterización sociodemográfica y clínica de los pacientes pediátricos con infección SARS-CoV-2, Subred Sur Occidente, Bogotá, D.C.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a current public health issue that is becoming important given the possibility of affecting the pediatric population, the limited evidence of the disease in children, and the importance of community viral transmission. Objective: to identify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients who developed COVID-19 disease. Methods: A descriptive observational case series study included 181 pediatric patients with a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Southwest Subnetwork of Bogotá, D.C., (Colombia). Results: COVID-19 disease in pediatrics presented no significant difference between the sexes. The familial epidemiological link was assessed. Clinical presentation was characterized by tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension. Lab test results showed lymphopenia and neutrophilia. Radiological imaging findings are nonspecific, generally involving the lower right and upper left lobes. Fifty-five percent presented uncomplicated disease. Possible at-risk infants were preschoolers, low socioeconomic strata, and children with comorbidities. Forty-two percent required hospitalization, with an average hospital stay of 5.32 days, and 4.41 % hospitalization in the ICU, with a case fatality rate of 1.65 %. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection in children tends to have a milder course and a good prognosis than in adults, whose impact ranges from clinical (uncomplicated) to social characteristics. The available evidence is scarce and restricts the drawing of conclusions. Therefore, it is recognized that this study fulfills its objective of being a pillar for future research.