Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the outcome of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in children and adolescents with tuberculosis.
Methods
We analyzed hospital records for the period May, 2020 to September, 2021 for children who were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive or SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive. They were divided into two groups viz., those with tuberculosis (tuberculosis group) and those without tuberculosis (non-TB group). Demographic information, symptoms, and outcomes of COVID-19 were compared between the two groups.
Results
Median (IQR) age of participants was 11 (8,14) and 4.5 (2,9) year for the tuberculosis and non-TB groups, respectively. 93.5% and 36.1% of children were asymptomatic in the tuberculosis and non-TB group, respectively. No variable in the study was significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity in children with tuberculosis. No difference was found in the outcomes of COVID-19 infection in children having tuberculosis.
Conclusions
No differences were noted in the outcomes of COVID-19 infection in children having tuberculosis.
Keywords: Co-infection, Diagosis, Presentation, Severity
Acknowledgments
Dr Nisha Yadav and Dr Mohammad Kashif Ali for assistance in all aspects of the study. Interns: Sagar Patil, Siddhi Chhajed, Jyoti Mundhe, and Pushkar Bhangale for their help in collecting the data.
Contributors: All authors were involved in concept and designed the study, collected and analyzed data, and drafted, revised the manuscript the manuscript. All authors approve the present version for publication, and are accountable for all aspects related to the study.
Funding: None; Competing interest: None stated.
Ethics clearance: IEC, Grant Government Medical College; No. IEC/Pharm/RP/570/Sep/2021, dated Sep, 2021.
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