Magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Outcome in Paediatric Surgical Inpatients during the First Wave of Pandemic at a Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital in India

Abstract

Summary This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre of Delhi, to assess the magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 disease and outcome in pediatric surgical inpatients. All the admitted patients were evaluated excluding outpatients and minor procedures. Out of 312 operated patients 2.88% patients were SARS-CoV-2 positive and out of 167 non operative patients 6.58% were SARS-CoV-2 positive. These patients received standard care as per guidelines using standard protective measures and were discharged home. Only one death occurred due to perforation peritonitis with sepsis. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric surgical patients was 4.17% and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had similar outcomes as compared to non SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Regarding ‘Magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Outcome in Paediatric Surgical Inpatients during the First Wave of Pandemic at a Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital in India’

“…We read with great interest the article by Prajapati, et al [ 1 ] about ‘Magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Outcome in Paediatric Surgical Inpatients during the First Wave of Pandemic at a Tertiary Care Children's Hospital in India’. Their study was conducted to investigate the magnitude and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on paediatric surgical inpatients in a tertiary care children's hospital during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (March 2020 to September 2020).…”

“…They stated that morbidity or mortality did not increase in paediatric surgery patients in this first pandemic attack of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), and that paediatric surgical care can be performed uninterruptedly with the optimal use of existing resources, universal testing protocol, testing-based triaging and precautions as per recommended guidelines. However, they emphasized the need for further work for COVID-19 pandemic in paediatric patients [ 1 ].…”