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WHAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TAUGHT US IN CHILDREN
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  • MUSTAFA GENÇELİ,
  • Ozge Metin Akcan,
  • Sevgi Pekcan,
  • Fatih Akın,
  • Mehmet Özdemir,
  • Ahmet Osman KILIÇ,
  • Abdullah Yazar
MUSTAFA GENÇELİ
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital

Corresponding Author:genceli.mstf13@gmail.com

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Ozge Metin Akcan
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Sevgi Pekcan
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Fatih Akın
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Mehmet Özdemir
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Ahmet Osman KILIÇ
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Abdullah Yazar
Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital
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Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, which has had a negative impact worldwide. We aimed to contribute to the medical literature by sharing the knowledge and experience of pediatric patients who were diagnosed as having COVID-19 in a one-year period. Method: Patients aged 1 month to 18 years who were diagnosed as having COVID-19 in our clinic, between March 2020 and April 2020, from when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic, were included in the study. Results: Four hundred sixty-seven children were included in the study. There were 34 (7.3%) patients under one year of age, 111 (23.8%) between 1-5 years, 98 (30.4%) between 5-10 years, 142 (30.4%) between 11-15 years, and 82 (17.6%) age over 15 years. Fever (88.2%), vomiting (32.4%), and diarrhea (29.4%) in patients aged under 1 year, sore throat (36.6%) in patients aged 11-15 years, and dysgeusia (11%), anosmia (14.6%), headache (18.3%), malaise (40.8%), myalgia (28%), and dyspnea (17.1%) in those aged over 15 years of age were found significantly more common compared with the other age groups. Thirty-five (7.5%) patients were asymptomatic, 365 (78.1%) had mild disease, 35 (7.5%) were moderate, 27 (5.8%) were severe, and five (1.07%) were critical. Leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ferritin, and C-reactive protein values were significantly higher in hospitalized patients. Four patients died during the study period (0.8%, 4/494). Conclusion: Although COVID-19 has an asymptomatic and mild course in children, it should be kept in mind that it may have a severe course.