Clinical Features in Infants Younger Than 2 Months of Age Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19

Abstract

Background: A limited number of studies described the clinical aspects of the new coronavirus outbreak in the infant population. This study was conducted to describe the clinical features and laboratory findings in infants younger than 2 months of age hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.Methods: This observational retrospective cohort study included all infants aged <2 months, admitted to two pediatric state hospitals, north of Iran, between February 19, 2020, and January 1, 2021, with confirmed COVID-19 infection. The patients whose pharyngeal or rectal specimens examined for coronavirus disease using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was positive, were included in the research. All patients were followed until they were discharged from the hospital.Results: Totally, 13 infants with an age range from 1 to 50 days have been recognized. More than one-third of the study patients (38.5%) have been hospitalized immediately after birth. Dyspnea and gastrointestinal symptoms were the most typical manifestations of the patients. One patient had positive RT-PCR results in cerebrospinal fluid examinationConclusion: The median length of stay in the hospital was seven days. More than 90% of infants younger than 2 months of age hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infection are expected to be cured.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• infant
• pandemics