The ABDOMINAL PAIN IN CHILDREN WITH COVID-19

COVİD-19'LU ÇOCUKLARDA KARIN AĞRISI

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2), which emerged in 2019 and caused a pandemic, was also seen in children with various symptoms. In this study, we examined the systemic signs and symptoms of SARS CoV 2 in pediatric patients and the frequency of surgical abdomen in pediatric patients presenting with abdominal pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of the patient with positive covid -19 test, who applied to the Pediatric Emergency Covid Outpatient Clinic in our institution between January-2020-December 2022, were retrospectively reviewed. Systemic signs and symptoms were evaluated and the rates of patients with abdominal pain and surgical abdomen were determined.

RESULTS: The records of 783 patients over two years were retrospectively reviewed. The most common complaints were fever (79%), followed by cough (41%), vomiting (26%), gastroenteritis (23%), sore throat (18%), abdominal pain (15%), nausea (12%). , dyspnea (11%), neurological findings (10.3%), MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children) findings (5%) were observed.

CONCLUSION: The fact that COVID-19 causes abdominal pain in children may delay the diagnosis of the diseases required with possible surgical treatment and increase mortality and morbidity. Therefore, while evaluating systemic effects, these patients should be kept under observation in order to distinguish between surgical abdomen and the necessary tests for differential diagnosis should be completed together with intermittent physical examination.