Epidemiological dynamics at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic among children in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to describe the profile of children infected by SARS-CoV-2 in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, comparing infection rates and disease evolution stratified by age group. Methods: this cross-sectional study used data from COVID-19-confirmed cases from a public state database in children aged zero–nine. Results: the study sample comprised 35,131 children. We found the highest infection rate in the age group of zero–four years old, 3.8% (95%CI:3.3%-4.3%). Of the patients, 3.8% (n = 1,323) had comorbidities, the most prevalent being respiratory tract disease (56.2%, n=829). 450 (1.3%) children developed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), with a lethality rate of 0.05% (95%CI:0.02%-0.08%). However, we found that both outcomes decreased when age increased; thus, a PR of 8.68 (CI95%:6.86-10.99) was estimated for SARS and PR=5,52 (CI95%:1,26- 24,09) for death in the presence of respiratory comorbidity. Discussion: this study revealed a low mortality rate in this population. The presence of respiratory comorbidities increases the risk of SARS and death. Both outcomes increased in younger age groups.