Many Action on Sepsis members are using their expertise in critical care, infectious diseases, diagnostics, and vaccine development to contribute to the global efforts to understand and reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent literature review, published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Dr Srinivas Murthy, Dr Tex Kissoon, and collaborators from Singapore and Italy, examines COVID-19 incidence and severity in children, and provides important information on how pediatric intensive care units worldwide can prepare for and manage care of critically-ill children during the pandemic.
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Children do not appear to account for a large proportion of COVID-19 disease, based on studies from Italy, China, and Korea.
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Current data suggests children primarily experience mild or moderate disease. Infants (<1 years of age) may be at the highest risk of severe disease, compared to older children. Limited information on pediatric patients requiring intensive care is available.
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The main method for detecting infections has been by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, collected via nasopharyngeal swabs. This method detects viral DNA found in the upper throat, behind the nose.
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Clinical guidelines for providing respiratory support are publically available. Resources and a checklist for healthcare providers in pediatric intensive care units are provided in this publication.
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Although pediatric cases requiring critical care might be low, it is important pediatric intensive care units have plans in place for managing potential surges of patients and quarantine of exposed staff.
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A family liaison contact may alleviate some of the challenges associated with restricting the number & movements of caregivers of patients within healthcare centers.
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Communication is key, both locally and globally. Potential resources and data are being disseminated through WhatsApp, Telegram, and Twitter (hashtags #PedsICU and #COVID19) and Free Open Access Medical Education websites such as Open Pediatrics and the Life in the Fast Lane blog (www.litfl.com).
The full paper can be viewed here:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Critically Ill Children: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Jacqueline S M Ong, Alvise Toson, YaeJean Kim, Niranjan Kissoon, Srinivas Murthy. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Apr 7.