Table 1.
Summary of findings of published clinical hospital cohorts in Africa
| vd Zalm et al.[18▪] | Nachega et al.[8▪▪] | Cloete et al.[17▪] | Borgi et al.[19] | |
| Design | Prospective single-center observational study of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive children | Multicenter retrospective record study of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive children | Prospective multicenter observational study of SARS-CoV-2 positive children | Retrospective record study of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive children in PICU |
| Number included, N | 62 | 469 | 183 COVID positive hospital admissions | 20 |
| Setting | Hospital, single center | Hospital, multiple center | Hospital, multiple center (n = 38) | PICU, single center |
| Country of study | South Africa, Cape Town | 25 healthcare facilities in 6 different Sub-Saharan countriesa | South Africa, Tshwane district | Tunisia |
| Inclusion start date | 17 April 2020 | 1 March 2020 | 31 October 2021 | 23 June 2021 |
| Inclusion end date | 24 July 2020 | 31 December 2020 | 11 December 2021 | 16 August 2021 |
| Period covered, months | 3 | 10 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Age children included | 0–13 years | 0–19 years | 0–13 years detailed clinical data | 0–15 years |
| Age, years • <1 • 1 to 5 • 5–9 • 10 to ≤ 13 |
4.0 (0.2–3.6) 48.4 33.9 17.7c |
5.9 (1.7–11.1) | 4.2 ± 4.1 35% 28% 25% 12% |
47 days (6.5–77) |
| Male, % | 56.5% | 52.4% | 56% | 46% |
| Black African ethnicity | Not reported | >90% | 89% | Not reported |
| SARS-CoV-2 test positive • Incidental • Contributory • Causative |
16.1% Na 82.3% |
Not reported |
36% 20% 44% |
Not applicable |
| Comorbidities TB HIV exposure HIV infection |
46.8% 3.6% 40.6% 3.2% |
Not reported 4.1% Not reported 3.2% |
51% Not specified 5% 4% |
None |
| Clinical symptoms | Not reported | |||
| • Fever | 35.5% | 46% | 95% | |
| • Cough | 35.5% | 40% | 25% | |
| • Diarrhea | 19.4% | 20% | 40% | |
| • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | 32.2% | 22% | Not reported | |
| • Seizures | 8.1% | 20% | Not reported | |
| • Skin rash | 9.7% | 3% | Not reported | |
| Laboratory findings | Only reported in COVID illness | Not reported | ||
| • CRP, normal range <10 mg/L | 13.5 (2.0–43.8) | 40.3 (0–502.0) | 12.5 (3.5–54.7) | |
| • White blood cell count, normal range 3.90–10.20 × 109/L | 12.5 (9.5–20.8) | 10.5 (0.1–29.0) | ||
| • Platelets, normal range 180–440 × 109/L | 406 (227–544) | 318.0 (38.0–795.0) | 272 (239–360) | |
| PICU admission (%) | 23.5% | 15.0% | 5% | 100% |
| Ventilated (%) | 9.8% | 7.8% | 5% | 85% |
| Oxygen therapy (%) | 49.0% | 34.6% | 20% | 30% |
| Duration of hospitalization, days | 5.0 (2.0–9.0) | 9.0 (5–16)d | 2 (1–3) | 10 days (5–19)e |
| Mortality, % | 2.0% | 7.9% | 3%b | 20% |
CRP, C-reactive protein; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PICU, pediatric intensive care unit; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; TB, tuberculosis.
a
Part of data vd Zalm et al.
b
Considered due to complex underlying copathology.
c
For children >5 years (groups combined).
d
For children recovered (not died).
e
In PICU.