CLINICAL PATTERNS OF COVID-19 AMONG CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN ADMITTED TO THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

SARS-CoV-2, a beta coronavirus, primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause mild to severe illness in children. It was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, leading to the global pandemic known as COVID-19.In children, COVID-19 symptoms are usually mild, such as fever, cough, and gastrointestinal problems. Severe complications likeacute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem inflammatory syndrome are rare but can happen, especially in children with existing health conditions. Anosmia and ageusia are uncommon symptoms in children.Male gender, high inflammatory markers, and low lymphocyte counts are linked to poor outcomes such as death, PICU admission, critical illness, need for respiratory support, and prolonged hospital stay.Children may have lower ACE2 expression, which could lessen the severity of infection. However, some children may still experience long-term effects such as mental health issues and long COVID syndrome. Early detection and intervention are essential, especially for high-risk children.AIM OF THE WORKThe aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcome of cases with COVID-19 admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at Alexandria University Children’s Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic by putting forward specific predictors of unfavorable outcomes.