Clinical and Epidemiological Presentation of COVID-19 among Children in Conflict Setting

Abstract

Background: This study aims to describe the observable symptoms of children with COVID-19 infection and analyze access to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing among children seeking care in Yemen. Method: In the period of March 2020–February 2022, data were obtained from 495 children suspected to have been infected with COVID-19 (from a larger register of 5634 patients) from the Diseases Surveillance and Infection Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Aden, Yemen. Results: Overall, 21.4% of the children with confirmed COVID-19 infection were asymptomatic. Fever (71.4%) and cough (67.1%) were the most frequently reported symptoms among children, and children were less likely to have fever (p p p 5 years (11%) compared to other age groups (p p p 0.031). Conclusion: Understanding and addressing the cause of these disparities and improving guidelines for COVID-19 screening among children will improve access to care and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• children
• equity
• Yemen