TITLE:
Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Children Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 at the COVID-19 Treatment Center at the ISIRO Hospital and WATSA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
AUTHORS:
Hilaire Lisimo Abwa, David Azako, Michel Ngbatala, Bienvenu Apenya, Jolie Mambeizidra, Julbert Malangu, Eugene Kumbodimo, George Mutuale, Herman Luhavo, Jean Claude Gbundu, Fiston Bolanda, François Enze, Marie Tasile, Yvette Kpakpo Nyange, Nicholas Katembo
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Morbi-Mortal, Emergency, Haut-Uélé
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.9,
September
9,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: COVID-19, an emerging infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), typically presents with mild clinical manifestations in pediatric populations. As in many other regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the COVID-19 pandemic affected children in Haut-Uélé, a province bordering South Sudan and Uganda. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 in pediatric population in this area. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period from August 1, 2021 to February 7, 2022. It included all patients aged 0 to 19 years with confirmed COVID-19 using RT-PCR and managed at the COVID-19 Treatment Centers (CTCO) in ISIRO and WATSA. Data were collected from patient records supplemented by the dataset from the service of Health Information System (SNIS) and the Epidemiological Surveillance Commission of the Provincial Health Division (DPS). Epidemiological and clinical profiles were analyzed. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software, Version 18. Results: During the 4th wave of the pandemic, 5 out of 13 health zones in Haut-Uélé province were affected, with a total of 569 recorded cases; 45 of them were children aged 0 to 19 years (7.9%). Asymptomatic cases accounted for 33.3% (15 cases). The mean age was 9.88 ± 5.49 years, with the most affected age group being 10 - 14 years (44.45%). There was a predominance of males (73.3%), with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.75. Half of the patients (53.3%) were from Watsa Health Zone. A seasonal peak was observed between December and January. Comorbidities were present in 10% of infected patients, and nearly half of participants were contacts of infected individuals. The primary reasons for admission were fever (66.66%), followed by rhinorrhea (57.77%) and cough (31.11%). All patients responded favorably to treatment. Conclusion: The proportion of pediatric COVID-19 cases at the CTCO centers in Haut-Uélé was low, with adolescent males being the most affected group. More than half of the cases were asymptomatic. The most common reasons for consultation were fever, rhinorrhea, and cough.