characteristics of eight pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Background: coronavirus disease 2019 (covid19) has attracted global attention for unexpected rapid transmission among countries. currently, little is known about the attributes of pediatric patients with covid19. objectives: to describe the characteristics of pediatric patients with covid19.methods: we retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological, laboratory, imaging, and clinical data of pediatric patients with covid19 from january 31 to february 24, 2020. results: a total of eight patients with covid19 were enrolled in this study. two patients had underlying diseases. seven children (87.5%) belonged to a family cluster outbreak. the most common symptoms were fever (50%), cough (37.5%), expectoration (37.5%), and sore throat (37.5%). for the laboratory findings, all patients had positive ncovrna results, three patients (37.5%) with abnormal white blood cell counts, and six patients (75%) with higher lymphocyte counts. chest computed tomography (ct) showed groundglass opacity or patchy shadows in 7 patients (87.5%). all patients received antiviral therapy. additionally, four patients (50%) were treated with antibiotics, one with glucocorticoid atomization (12.5%), one with interferon atomization (12.5%), four patients (50%) with traditional chinese medicine. all patients discharged within three weeks, without poor prognosis or recurrence after 14 days followup. conclusions: pediatric patients with covid19 were mainly transfected through family cluster outbreaks. the clinical manifestations were mild without a typical pattern. highresolution ct and ncovrna tests have great value for earlystage diagnosis. antiviral therapy is effective in treating viral pneumonia.