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

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

Volume: 17 Issue: 3

Author(s): Sofia Benou, Shamez Ladhani, Gabriel Dimitriou and Despoina Gkentzi*

Affiliation:

• Department of Paediatrics, Patras Medical School, Rion 26504,Greece

Keywords: Children, COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, extrapulmonary manifestations, atypical manifestations, pneumonia.

Abstract:

Background: In December 2019, a local outbreak of pneumonia was 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 a pandemic because of the millions of infections and thousands of deaths worldwide. Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 usually develop the asymptomatic or mild type of 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 through 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 and requiring inotropic support and mechanical ventilation.

Conclusion: 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.

Cite this article as:

Benou Sofia, Ladhani Shamez , Dimitriou Gabriel and Gkentzi Despoina *, Atypical Manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Children: A Systematic Review, Current Pediatric Reviews 2021; 17 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573396317666210406153302