Discourage pediatric patients attending the Emergency Room with mild symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or if they are contacts of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in the absence of symptoms and do not delay access to Health Services if children and adolescents present with any clinical condition indicative of possible serious illness (whether or not related to presumed COVID-19 infection).

Type of practice

Other health practices

Topic Area

Paediatrics

Children appear to be less affected by COVID-19 than adults, with a milder clinical presentation and a significantly lower mortality rate. However, serious complications, such as temporarily COVID-19-related multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), which can be associated with myocardial damage, can occur in children. The decision whether to hospitalize a positive child is essentially based on three factors: disease severity, comorbidities, and family compliance. There is unanimous agreement on the indication for hospitalization in moderate to critical forms and in febrile infants under 3 months of age. Children with mild symptoms can be managed at home with telephone surveillance, possible visit by the treating pediatrician or pediatric Continuity of Care Units (USCA) and educating caregivers on clinical signs of deterioration that require access to health services (such as respiratory distress, chest pain, cyanosis, altered consciousness, oliguria). Do not delay access to Health Services if the child/adolescent presents with any clinical condition indicative of a possible serious illness.

Sources

1. Bellino S, Rota MC, Riccardo F, et al. COVID-19 working group. Pediatric COVID-19 Cases Pre- and Post-Lockdown in Italy. Pediatrics. 2020:e2020035238.
2. Götzinger F, Santiago-García B, Noguera-Julián A, at al. COVID-19 Study Group. COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Europe: a multinational, multicentre cohort study. Lancet Child Ado-lesc Heal. 2020;4:653-661.
3. Vergine G, Fantini M, Marchetti F, et al. Regione Emilia-Romagna COVID-19 Pediatric Working Group (RERCOPed). Home Management of Children With COVID-19 in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. Front Pediatr 2020;8:575290.

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Attention. Please note that these items are provided only for information and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a clinician. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their clinician.