Systemic clinical symptoms, cough linked with ocular symptoms in kids with COVID-19

In this cross-sectional study conducted at Wuhan Children’s Hospital in Wuhan, China, 216 pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included.

Of the symptomatic children, 37.5% had a fever and 36.6% had a cough. Overall, 43.1% of children had no systemic or respiratory symptoms.

Approximately 23% of patients (n = 49) had ocular manifestations; ocular complaints were the first symptom of COVID-19 in 9 patients. Manifestations in these patients included discharge in 55.1%, eye rubbing in 38.8%, and conjunctival congestion in 10.2%.

Children with systemic symptoms or with coughs were more likely to develop ocular symptoms.

The authors noted that ocular symptoms were generally mild and children recovered or improved.

Reference
Ma N, Li P, Wang X, et al. Ocular manifestations and clinical characteristics of children with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online August 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3690