Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine
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Children are less likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 than adults and often have a milder course of COVID-19 disease and a lower case fatality rate. Children account for an estimated 1% to 8% of those diagnosed with COVID-19. Even so, preschool-aged children, infants, and children with underlying health conditions may still be at risk for severe disease and complications. Unique aspects of COVID-19 presentation and disease course in children and possible vertical transmission to newborns from COVID-19-positive mothers are discussed.
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Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are seen in patients with COVID-19. The prevalence could be as high as 50%, but most studies show ranges from 16% to 33%. Presenting with GI symptoms increases the risk of testing positive for SARs-CoV-2. ⋯ Having GI symptoms has been associated with more severe disease. Management of GI symptoms is mainly supportive. Healthcare providers should be aware of the GI manifestations of COVID-19 and perform SARS-CoV-2 testing for patients presenting with digestive changes, especially in those with respiratory symptoms.
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Bamlanivimab and casirivimab-imdevimab are novel virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies authorized to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in outpatients at risk for progression to severe disease. Treatment early in the disease may show efficacy in reducing progression to severe disease, although safety and efficacy data are limited. They are not authorized for hospitalized patients with more advanced disease.
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The glucocorticoid dexamethasone is the standard of care in critically ill patients with COVID-19 to suppress the inappropriately heightened inflammatory response (cytokine storm), but the Janus kinase inhibitor baricitinib combined with remdesivir has received emergency use authorization for the same indication. As of this writing, in a hospitalized patient with COVID-19 who has evidence of pneumonitis or hypoxia, we recommend using either regimen, but not both together. Both regimens have shown benefit in randomized controlled trials, but we cannot state with certainty that either is superior to the other, nor whether they should be used together. Further trials are underway.