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COVID-19 in Children with Cancer: A single Low-Middle income center experience
  • +11
  • Fatma Ebeid,
  • iman ragab,
  • nayera Elsherif,
  • Sara Makkeyah,
  • Salwa Mostafa,
  • Khadiga Eltonbary,
  • Safa Sayed,
  • Aya Mostafa ,
  • Heba AbdelRaheem,
  • Sara Agwa,
  • Hala Hafez,
  • Samia girgis,
  • Yasmin El Gendy ,
  • Manal El-Sayed
Fatma Ebeid
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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iman ragab
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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nayera Elsherif
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Sara Makkeyah
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Salwa Mostafa
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Khadiga Eltonbary
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Safa Sayed
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Aya Mostafa
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Heba AbdelRaheem
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Sara Agwa
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Hala Hafez
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Samia girgis
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Yasmin El Gendy
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Manal El-Sayed
Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
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Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) could be associated with morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. Objective: To measure the frequency of SARS-COV-2 infection among hospitalized children with cancer and detect the associated clinical manifestations and outcomes. Methodology: A prospective non-interventional study including all hospitalized children with cancer conducted between mid-April and mid-June 2020 in Ain Shams University hospital, Egypt. Clinical, laboratory and radiological data were collected. SARS-CoV2 infection was diagnosed by RT-PCR tests in nasopharyngeal swabs. Results: Fifteen of 61 hospitalized children with cancer were diagnosed with SARS-COV-2. Their mean age was 8.3±3.5 years. Initially, 10(66.7%) were asymptomatic and 5(33.3%) were symptomatic with fever and/or cough. Baseline laboratory tests other than SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR were not diagnostic; the mean absolute lymphocyte count was 8.7±2.4 x109/L, C-reactive protein was mildly elevated in most of patients. Imaging was performed in 10(66.7%) patients with significant radiological findings detected in 4(40%) patients. Treatment was mainly supportive with antibiotics as per the febrile neutropenia protocol and local Children Hospital guidance for management of COVID-19 in children. Conclusion: Pediatric cancer patients with COVID-19 were mainly asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. A high index of suspicion and regular screening with nasopharyngeal swab in asymptomatic hospitalized cancer patients is recommended. 
07 Dec 2020Published in Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology volume Publish Ahead of Print. 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002025