Coronavirus could affect more children than previously assumed, according to a new American study
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousIl coronavirus it might strike more children than assumed so far. This is the conclusion reached by a new study, conducted by the University of South Florida.
Research published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice estimates that for every child in need of intensive care due to the pandemic, there are 2.381 infected with the virus, many of which are beyond the control of health authorities. This calculation was made by analyzing data from a report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention prepared on the basis of a clinical study of over 2.100 children with Covid-19 in China.
According to American data, 74 children in the United States were admitted to pediatric intensive care between March 18 and April 6, which means that another 176.190 children were infected in the same time period. Children under the age of 2 accounted for 30% of cases, while 24% were between 2 and 11 years old and 46% of hospitalized patients were between 12 and 17 years old.
The chart below shows the number of pediatric patients confirmed for COVID-19 in ICU in the United States from March 18 to April 6, 2020.
@ University of South Florida
Based on these considerations, the American researchers hypothesized that if by the end of 2020, 25% of the US population becomes infected with the coronavirus, most likely 50.000 children should be hospitalized, including 5.400 in serious condition with the disease. need for mechanical ventilation and assisted breathing. In addition, the average length of hospitalization for children with Covid-19 is 14 days. An alarming figure, considering there are only 5.100 beds in the United States for all types of pediatric emergencies.
@ University of South Florida
"Although the risk of serious COVID-19 disease is lower in pediatric cases than in adults, hospitals should be prepared and have the appropriate equipment and staffing levels to cope with a potential influx of younger patients," he said. study author Jason Salemi, associate professor of epidemiology at USF College of Public Health. "Government officials and policy makers should understand the likelihood of capacity problems, which underscores the importance of effective mitigation strategies such as frequent and thorough hand washing and persistent social distancing measures."
The researchers also argue that the infection rate will be much higher for children in low-income families with employed parents who are unable to work from home.
The graph shows the expected number of children aged 0-17 in the United States who will require coronavirus hospitalization during 2020.
@ University of South Florida
An alarming prospect.
Fonti di riferimento: University of South Florida, Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
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