The clinical profile of COVID-19 infected children and adolescents in a regional treatment center in Cameroon
Andreas Chiabia1, Ahmadou Garbaa1, Samuel Angwafora2, Sylvian Laah Njoyoa1, Minette Porro Adjib2, Godwill Timahb2, Cypress Mbah Munjeb2, Denis Nsame Nforniweb21Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon, 2Department of Pediatrics, Regional Hospital Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon
Objectives: To describe the clinical features, comorbidities and outcome of COVID-19 infected children and adolescents in Cameroon. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among COVID-19 patients aged 19 years or less, managed at the treatment center of the Bamenda Regional Hospital from 6th March 2020 to 6th June 2021. Data collected from the medical records included demographic data, Clinical characteristics at presentation, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome were collected. Results: The study included 290 children representing 17.7 % of the total number of cases, with a mean age of 13.4±4.72 years and a sex ratio 0.44. Contamination was mainly from close contact with a positive case in school (74.10%) or a family member (25.50%). While most symptomatic cases were mild (67.9%), 3.1% were moderate cases and 29% remained asymptomatic. Among symptomatic patients, there was a 2 times increased odds among adolescents compared with the pre-adolescent (OR= 2.16 95%CI: 1.09 - 4.22; p=0.02). The most reported symptoms were cough (43.80%) and nasal symptoms (41.4%). All subjects had a good outcome with 99.7% cured rate. Conclusion: COVID-19 is common in children of all ages, most of whom are either asymptomatic or present with mild forms with a very good outcome. Keywords: Children, COVID-19, clinical presentation, outcome, transmission
Cite This Article
Chiabia A, Garbaa A, Angwafora S, Njoyoa S, Adjib M, Timahb G, Munjeb C, Nforniweb D. The clinical profile of COVID-19 infected children and adolescents in a regional treatment center in Cameroon. EJMI. 2022; 6(1): 84-89
Corresponding Author: Andreas Chiabia