In Children, Slight Difference Found Between COVID-19 vs Influenza Clinical Features

When children were admitted to a hospital for COVID-19, they had no higher chance of serious complications than other children admitted with seasonal influenza, according to a retrospective study published by JAMA on September 8, 2020.

In this cohort study of children with COVID-19 or seasonal influenza, located near Washington DC, there was no difference in hospitalization rates, intensive care unit admission rates, and mechanical ventilator use between the 2 groups.

More patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had underlying medical conditions and reported fever, diarrhea or vomiting, headache, body ache or myalgia, or chest pain.