Children are at low risk for being hospitalized with COVID-19 but they are not at no risk. Many kids that do end up in the hospital with COVID-19 will have predisposing medical conditions such as obesity; however, there are a lot of children whose only major risk factor is that they were not vaccinated against the virus.
A study published in the MMWR in April (2022) looked at hospitalizations of kids ages 5 through 11 years old from COVID-NET, a surveillance system of hospitals across the country. Trained surveillance officers systematically abstracted medical charts of COVID-19 admissions that occurred over several months including pediatric admission during a period the Omicron variant was dominant.
About 1 out of 3 kids hospitalized had NO underlying medical condition. Among children hospitalized during this Omicron-predominant period, 19% required ICU admission. Most children aged 5–11 years hospitalized during the Omicron-predominant period were unvaccinated. No vaccinated child in the study required a higher level O2 support (more than just basic low flow nasal cannula).
In another report published in the MMWR, hospitalizations of children under the age of 5 were analyzed. Trained surveillance officers abstracted medical charts from the COVID-NET system. During the period that the Omicron variant was dominant; 85% of those hospitalized with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, were admitted with COVID-19 being their primary diagnosis. About 2 out of 3 infants and children admitted during this time had NO underlying medical condition. Kids admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 are usually tested for other infections as well. RSV is a common reason for children under 5 to end up in the hospital. It is notable that only 7% of these children also had a coinfection with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
In a study that included 1,187 patients (ages 5 to 19) from 164 Texas hospitals, only 42% of the kids admitted for COVID-19 had at least one predisposing condition. The most common comorbid condition was obesity.
Studies in other countries have found similar results. For example; in a study conducted through a Canadian surveillance system, only 43% of the kids (< 18 years old) admitted had “chronic comorbid conditions”. Hospital admissions of those who incidentally had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test or were admitted primarily for another condition were excluded from that calculation.
Kids are at a lower risk than older adults for being admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19. Unfortunately, they are not at no risk. Previously healthy kids are being hospitalized and many have needed intensive care. Vaccination lowers a child's risk for suffering from severe COVID-19. Go to vaccines.gov to find out where to get vaccines specific for each age group.
All statements in this article should be attributed to myself, not any organization I represent or my employer. This article presents a medical perspective - not a statement intended to be for or against any public policy or politician.
Russ Coash, PA-C
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