clinical characteristics, laboratory features, and outcomes of 151 pediatric patients with covid-19 and mis-c: a single-center study in the northwest of iran

Background: to date, multiple outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) have been reported. moreover, a wide spectrum of multiple organ involvements has been reported. objectives: this study aimed to describe and compare the clinical characteristics, laboratory features, and outcomes of pediatric patients with covid-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome of children (mis-c). methods: this cohort retrospective study was performed on patients under 18 years admitted with a diagnosis of covid-19 and mis-c in a pediatric referral center in the northwest of iran from march 2020 to june 2021. this study included the data obtained from three time points, including on admission, 1 week, and 3 months after admission. results: in this study, 151 patients with a mean age of 5.3 ± 4.1 years were enrolled, out of whom 51.7% and 48.3% were in covid-19 and mis-c groups, respectively. fever was observed in 64.9% of the patients. in the third-month follow-up, there was no abnormality in the neurologic, respiratory, or gastrointestinal systems. for most patients with cardiovascular involvement, normal ventricular and valvar function, and coronary arteries were obtained in follow-up. approximately one-third of the subjects were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (picu). neonates, those with cardiac involvement and underlying disease, were at a higher risk for picu admission (p < 0.001). moreover, six patients died. conclusions: although irreversible post-covid-19 organ involvement is uncommon among pediatric patients, routine and preplanned follow-up programs play an important role in achieving satisfactory outcomes.