University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne Medical School
  • Paediatrics (RCH)
  • Paediatrics (RCH) - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne Medical School
  • Paediatrics (RCH)
  • Paediatrics (RCH) - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Europe: a multinational, multicentre cohort study

    Thumbnail
    Citations
    Scopus
    Web of Science
    Altmetric
    78
    50
    Author
    Goetzinger, F; Santiago-Garcia, B; Noguera-Julian, A; Lanaspa, M; Lancella, L; Carducci, FIC; Gabrovska, N; Velizarova, S; Prunk, P; Osterman, V; ...
    Date
    2020-09-01
    Source Title
    Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
    Publisher
    ELSEVIER SCI LTD
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Tebruegge, Marc; Ritz, Nicole
    Affiliation
    Paediatrics (RCH)
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Goetzinger, F., Santiago-Garcia, B., Noguera-Julian, A., Lanaspa, M., Lancella, L., Carducci, F. I. C., Gabrovska, N., Velizarova, S., Prunk, P., Osterman, V., Krivec, U., Lo Vecchio, A., Shingadia, D., Soriano-Arandes, A., Melendo, S., Lanari, M., Pierantoni, L., Wagner, N., L'Huillier, A. G. ,... Tebruegge, M. (2020). COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Europe: a multinational, multicentre cohort study. LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH, 4 (9), pp.653-661. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30177-2.
    Access Status
    Access this item via the Open Access location
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/254494
    DOI
    10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30177-2
    Open Access URL
    https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7316447?pdf=render
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: To date, few data on paediatric COVID-19 have been published, and most reports originate from China. This study aimed to capture key data on children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection across Europe to inform physicians and health-care service planning during the ongoing pandemic. METHODS: This multicentre cohort study involved 82 participating health-care institutions across 25 European countries, using a well established research network-the Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet)-that mainly comprises paediatric infectious diseases specialists and paediatric pulmonologists. We included all individuals aged 18 years or younger with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, detected at any anatomical site by RT-PCR, between April 1 and April 24, 2020, during the initial peak of the European COVID-19 pandemic. We explored factors associated with need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and initiation of drug treatment for COVID-19 using univariable analysis, and applied multivariable logistic regression with backwards stepwise analysis to further explore those factors significantly associated with ICU admission. FINDINGS: 582 individuals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, with a median age of 5·0 years (IQR 0·5-12·0) and a sex ratio of 1·15 males per female. 145 (25%) had pre-existing medical conditions. 363 (62%) individuals were admitted to hospital. 48 (8%) individuals required ICU admission, 25 (4%) mechanical ventilation (median duration 7 days, IQR 2-11, range 1-34), 19 (3%) inotropic support, and one (<1%) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Significant risk factors for requiring ICU admission in multivariable analyses were being younger than 1 month (odds ratio 5·06, 95% CI 1·72-14·87; p=0·0035), male sex (2·12, 1·06-4·21; p=0·033), pre-existing medical conditions (3·27, 1·67-6·42; p=0·0015), and presence of lower respiratory tract infection signs or symptoms at presentation (10·46, 5·16-21·23; p<0·0001). The most frequently used drug with antiviral activity was hydroxychloroquine (40 [7%] patients), followed by remdesivir (17 [3%] patients), lopinavir-ritonavir (six [1%] patients), and oseltamivir (three [1%] patients). Immunomodulatory medication used included corticosteroids (22 [4%] patients), intravenous immunoglobulin (seven [1%] patients), tocilizumab (four [1%] patients), anakinra (three [1%] patients), and siltuximab (one [<1%] patient). Four children died (case-fatality rate 0·69%, 95% CI 0·20-1·82); at study end, the remaining 578 were alive and only 25 (4%) were still symptomatic or requiring respiratory support. INTERPRETATION: COVID-19 is generally a mild disease in children, including infants. However, a small proportion develop severe disease requiring ICU admission and prolonged ventilation, although fatal outcome is overall rare. The data also reflect the current uncertainties regarding specific treatment options, highlighting that additional data on antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are urgently needed. FUNDING: ptbnet is supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [45689]
    • Paediatrics (RCH) - Research Publications [1852]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors