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Influenza versus COVID-19: Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes in a pediatric hospital in Mexico City.
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  • Almudena Laris González,
  • Martha Avilés-Robles,
  • Clemen Domínguez-Barrera,
  • Israel Parra-Ortega,
  • José Luis Sánchez Huerta,
  • Karla Ojeda-Diezbarroso,
  • Sergio Bonilla Pellegrini,
  • Victor Olivar-López,
  • Adrián Chávez López,
  • RODOLFO N Jimenez-Juarez
Almudena Laris González
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Martha Avilés-Robles
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Clemen Domínguez-Barrera
Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gomez
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Israel Parra-Ortega
Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gomez
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José Luis Sánchez Huerta
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Karla Ojeda-Diezbarroso
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Sergio Bonilla Pellegrini
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Victor Olivar-López
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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Adrián Chávez López
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
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RODOLFO N Jimenez-Juarez
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez

Corresponding Author:dr.jimenezjuarez@gmail.com

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Abstract

Introduction: Respiratory viruses are among the leading causes of disease and death among children. Co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV2 can lead to diagnostic and management difficulties given the similarities the clinical picture. Methods: This is a cohort of all children hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection from March to September 3rd 2020, and all children admitted with influenza throughout five flu-seasons (2013-2018) at a pediatric referral hospital. Patients with influenza were identified from the clinical laboratory database. All hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection were followed-up prospectively. Results: A total of 295 patients with influenza and 133 with SARS-CoV2 infection were included. The median age was 3.7 years for influenza and 5.3 years for SARS-CoV2. Comorbidities were frequent in both groups, but they were more common in patients with influenza (96.6% vs 82.7%, p <0.001). Fever and cough were the most common clinical manifestations in both groups. Rhinorrhea was present in more than half of children with influenza but was infrequent in those with COVID-19 (53.6 vs 5.8%, p<0.001). Overall, 6.4% percent of patients with influenza and 7.5% percent of patients with SARS-CoV2 infection died. In-hospital mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation among symptomatic patients were similar between groups in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Influenza and COVID-19 have a similar picture in pediatric patients, which makes diagnostic testing necessary for adequate diagnosis and management. Even though most cases of COVID-19 in children are asymptomatic or mild, the risk of death among hospitalized patients with comorbidities may be substantial, especially among infants.