Atypical Manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: In December 2019, a local outbreak of pneumonia presented in Wuhan (China), and quickly identified to be caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was named COVID-19 and was soon declared as pandemic because of the millions of infections and thousands of deaths worldwide. Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 usually develop asymptomatic or mild disease compared to adults. They are also more likely to have atypical and non-specific clinical manifestations than adults. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus to summarize the extrapulmonary manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children since the beginning of the pandemic. Peer-reviewed papers in English were retrieved using the following keywords and combinations: ‘pediatric’, ‘child’, ‘infant’, ‘neonate’, ‘novel coronavirus’, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, ‘COVID 19’ and ‘gastrointestinal’, ‘renal’, ‘cardiac’, ‘dermatologic’ or ‘ophthalmologic’. We included published case series and case reports providing clinical symptoms and signs in SARS-CoV2 pediatric patients. Results: Although fever and symptoms of upper respiratory infection are the most frequently presented, a variety of other atypical presentations has also been reported. The clinical spectrum includes dermatological, ophthalmological, neurological, cardiovascular, renal, reproductive, and gastrointestinal presentations. In addition, a rare multi-inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported in children, often leading to shock requiring inotropic support and mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Clinicians need to be aware of the wider range of extrapulmonary atypical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, so that appropriate testing, treatment, and public health measures can be implemented rapidly.