Different clinical features of children and adults in regional outbreak of Delta COVID-19

Abstract

Background This study compared clinical features of the Delta variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and adults. Methods Clinical data included 80 children and 132 adults with the Delta variant of COVID-19, hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital of Putian College between September and October 2021. The data was analyzed retrospectively. Results The proportion of mild patients in the children group (50%) was higher than that in the adults group (17.9%). Cough (25%, 20/80) and diarrhea (1.3%, 1/80) symptoms in children group were significantly less frequent. Compared with adults, there was no significant difference in the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in samples collected by nasopharyngeal swabs. In children, lymphocyte count was higher [1.98 (0.25–4.25) vs 1.20 (0.29–4.27) ×109/L], whereas the interleukin-6 level was lower [5.87 (1.50–61.40) vs 15.15 (1.79–166.30) pg/mL] than that in adults group. Additionally, the incidence of liver injury in children group was lower than that in adults group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of proteinuria (22/75 vs 45/112) between the two groups, but the serum creatinine level in children was lower [42.0 (28.0–73.0) vs 57.0 (32.0–94.0) µmol/L]. Conclusion Compared with adults, children with the Delta variant of COVID-19 have differences in symptoms, clinical classification, inflammatory indices, and liver/kidney function injury. Children’s illness is relatively mild. Clinicians should pay attention to their differences and use drugs accurately.

The Gut Microbiome of Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…There is a paucity of such data in children, which is important to study for several reasons. Firstly, in addition to having a different clinical presentation of COVID-19 than adults [10], children also have different immune responses and a developing gut microbiome, which differs from the adult gut microbiome [11][12][13]. Characterizing the role of the underlying gut microbiome in pediatric COVID-19 may explain the differences in pathogenesis and clinical presentation between children and adults.…”

The Impact of G6PD Deficiency on Liver Function in Children Under 15

“…Comparing the albumin concentrations of patients based on their age and gender revealed no statistically significant differences (Table 4). Due to its high level in children than in adults [22], thus the albumin level was higher in the children of the control group. availability of binding protein, hypoalbuminemia may also contribute to an increase in urine zinc excretion [23].…”

Comparative Analysis of Immune-response in Humans Infected by Alpha, Delta and Omicron Strains of SARS-CoV-2

“…This leaves a cue for pro-inflammatory response [Blanco-Melo et al, 2020]. Role of IL-6 becomes relevant in delta wave too, as reports describe elevated amount of IL-6 marks disease severity [Hong et al, 2022]. This phenomenon facilitates viral replication and growth of infection.…”