COVID-19 Morbidity in Children with Bronchial Asthma and Allergies

Abstract

Background. The morbidity of new coronavirus infection remains high (in children as well). Children with bronchial asthma are not at risk this disease development and severe course of COVID-19 according to the previous studies results.

Objective. The aim of the study is to compare the morbidity rate of COVID-19 among children with and without bronchial asthma between May 2020 and October 2021 with the results from the beginning of pandemics. Methods. Online questionnaires in Google form have been developed and sent to parents of 83 patients aged from 7 to 17 years who have been interviewed at the beginning of the pandemics. The main group includes 49 patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma, and the control group includes 25 children without bronchial asthma.

Results. 45% (22) of patients had COVID-19 in the main group and 32% (8) — in the control group (p = 0.636). 80% of patients had mild course of disease and 20% — moderate in the main group, and 62% and 37% in the control group respectively. Febrile fever was observed in 40% of respondents in the main group and in 33% — in the control group; anosmia — in 35% in the main and in 14% — in the control group; pulse oximetry was used by 44% of patients in the main group (SpO₂ 94–98%) and 42% in the control group (SpO₂ 98–99%); 66% of patients had baseline therapy and 6% had rescue medications in the main group. No one from both groups has been hospitalized.

Conclusion. Pediatric patients both with and without bronchial asthma have COVID-19 more often compared to the pandemics beginning. The disease in most cases had mild course and did not require hospitalization, aggravations of bronchial asthma were rare, and saturation values did not decrease below 94%.