Introduction:

The mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 in the pediatric population is still poorly known. This is because children often present with mild symptoms or may even be asymptomatic, making it difficult to identify and monitor severe cases that can lead to death. Likewise, SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population behaves differently than it does in adults. This lack of knowledge is particularly concerning in low- and middle- income countries like Colombia, where health systems may not have the necessary infrastructure to effectively collect and analyze data.

Objective:

To describe survival due to SARS CoV-2/COVID-19 infection in the pediatric population diagnosed in Colombian pediatric care health institutions.

Materials and methods:

Longitudinal descriptive observational study with retrospective data in patients under 17 years of age who consulted in 23 health institutions in Colombia between January 2020 and December 2020. Sample size: 23 patients.

Results:

23 cases of patients dying from COVID-19 were recorded in the pediatric population in Colombia. Mortality was 1.9%. 60.9% of the patients were under 5 years of age. %, 56.5% were female, 60.8% of the patients had an associated underlying clinical condition and of these, 17.4% had malnutrition. The use of antibiotics in cases of bacterial coinfection was associated with greater survival, while acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and seizures were related to lower survival with respect to the final outcome.

Conclusion:

Mortality from COVID-19 in this population was 1.9%, with a higher prevalence in female patients under 5 years of age with associated underlying clinical condition, mainly malnutrition. The cardinal presenting symptom was respiratory difficulty and 100% of patients required oxygen support. The use of antibiotics in cases of bacterial coinfection was related to longer survival, while acute respiratory distress syndrome and seizures contributed to shorter survival time. The age variable was also significant, finding a greater risk of reaching the final outcome in less time in patients under 5 years of age.

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