Patients assisted at the Department of Medicine of a pediatric hospital at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Cairoli, Héctor; Raiden, Silvina; Chiolo, María J; Di Lalla, Sandra; Ferrero, Fernando

INTRODUCTION Despite the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, the information about its development in pediatrics is still limited. This report describes the characteristics of patients admitted to a children's hospital due to COVID-19 during the first three months of the pandemic. METHOD Descriptive study including all patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 between 4/1/2020 and 6/30/2020. RESULTS A total of 191 patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19; their median age was 7.7 years; 89% had a history of close contact. Of them, 35.6 % were considered asymptomatic; 61.2 %, mild cases; and 3.2 %, moderate cases (no severe cases). None of them received a specific treatment for the disease. The most common symptoms were fever, sore throat, and cough. The median length of stay was 6 days. CONCLUSION A total of 191 cases of children and adolescents admitted due to COVID-19 are reported. Most were asymptomatic or presented with a mild disease.