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Comparison of pneumonia features in children caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other viral respiratory pathogens.
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  • Rut del Valle Pérez,
  • Alvaro Ballesteros,
  • Cristina Calvo,
  • Talia Sainz,
  • Ana Mendez Echevarría,
  • Carlos Daniel Grasa,
  • Paula Rodriguez Molino,
  • Maria Jose Mellado,
  • Francisco José Sanz de Santaeufemia,
  • Blanca Herrero,
  • Lourdes Calleja Gero,
  • Antoni Soriano Arandes ,
  • Susana Melendo,
  • Elena Rincón-López,
  • Alicia Hernanz,
  • CRISTINA EPALZA,
  • Carmen María García-Baeza,
  • Eva Rupérez-García,
  • Arantxa Berzosa,
  • Angustias Ocaña Arenas,
  • Álvaro Villaroya-Villalba,
  • Ana Barrios,
  • Enrique Otheo,
  • Juan Carlos Galán,
  • Mario Rodríguez,
  • Juan Mesa,
  • Sara Domínguez-Rodríguez,
  • CINTA MORALEDA,
  • ALFREDO TAGARRO
Rut del Valle Pérez
Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía

Corresponding Author:rutdelvalle@hotmail.com

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Alvaro Ballesteros
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
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Cristina Calvo
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Talia Sainz
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Ana Mendez Echevarría
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Carlos Daniel Grasa
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Paula Rodriguez Molino
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Maria Jose Mellado
Hospital Universitario La Paz
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Francisco José Sanz de Santaeufemia
Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús
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Blanca Herrero
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús
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Lourdes Calleja Gero
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús
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Antoni Soriano Arandes
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron
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Susana Melendo
Hospital Vall d'Hebron
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Elena Rincón-López
Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
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Alicia Hernanz
Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
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CRISTINA EPALZA
Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre
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Carmen María García-Baeza
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
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Eva Rupérez-García
Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra
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Arantxa Berzosa
Hospital Universitario de Getafe
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Angustias Ocaña Arenas
Hospital Universitario La Moraleja
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Álvaro Villaroya-Villalba
Hospital Politécnico y Universitario La Fe
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Ana Barrios
Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía
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Enrique Otheo
Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
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Juan Carlos Galán
Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
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Mario Rodríguez
Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
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Juan Mesa
HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO INFANTA SOFIA
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Sara Domínguez-Rodríguez
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (IMAS12)
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CINTA MORALEDA
Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre
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ALFREDO TAGARRO
Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre
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Abstract

Pneumonia is a frequent manifestation of COVID-19 in hospitalized children. Methods The study involved 80 hospitals in the SARS-CoV-2 Spanish Pediatric National Cohort. Participants were children <18 years, hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We compared the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-associated CAP with CAP due to other viral etiologies from 2012 to 2019. Results In total, 151 children with SARS-CoV-2-associated CAP and 138 with other viral CAP included. Main clinical features of SARS-CoV-2-associated CAP were cough 117/151(77%), fever 115/151(76%) and dyspnea 63/151(46%); 22/151(15%) patients were admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and 5/151(3%) patients died. Lymphopenia was found in 63/147(43%) patients. Chest X-ray revealed condensation (64/151[42%]) and other infiltrates (87/151[58%]). Compared with CAP from other viral pathogens, COVID-19 patients were older (8 vs.1 year; odds ratio [OR] 1.42 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.23;1.42]), with lower CRP levels (23 vs.48 mg/L; OR 1 [95%CI 0.99;1]), less wheezing (17 vs.53%; OR 0.18 [95%CI 0.11;0.31]) and greater need of mechanical ventilation, MV (7 vs.0.7%, OR 10.8 [95%CI 1.3;85). Patients with non-SARS-CoV-2-associated CAP had a greater need for oxygen therapy (77 vs.44%, OR 0.24 [95%CI 0.14;0.40]). There were no differences in the use of CPAP or HVF or PICU admission between groups. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2-associated CAP in children presents differently to other virus-associated CAP: children are older and rarely have wheezing or high CRP levels; they need less oxygen but more CPAP or MV. However, several features overlap, and differentiating the etiology may be difficult. The overall prognosis is good.
29 Nov 2021Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
01 Dec 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Dec 2021Assigned to Editor
06 Dec 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
31 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
01 May 20221st Revision Received
02 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
02 May 2022Assigned to Editor
02 May 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Accept