Severe, primary, and incidental COVID-19 in hospitalised children, South Africa: 2020-2023.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Knowledge gaps persist regarding paediatric COVID-19 clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes in high HIV prevalence settings, with low COVID-19 vaccine coverage.

Methods

An ambi-directional cohort study was conducted in 13 South African public sector hospitals. Hospitalised children with SARS-CoV-2 infection or post-infection syndrome were included. Main outcomes measures included severe disease and primary COVID-19 (hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection).

Results

There were 2363 SARS-CoV-2 positive children included (March 2020 through May 2023); median age 23.6 months (interquartile range (IQR) = 4.3-98.2 months). Excluding missing values, 1618 (68.9%) children had primary COVID-19; 1121 (69.3%) of these had severe primary COVID-19. In the primar

SUBMITTER: Goga A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856961 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature