Rapid antigen detection (RAD) tests for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 are simpler, faster, and less expensive than the reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) that is currently considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the PANBIO COVID‐19 Ag RAD (Abbott) test, a lateral flow immunoassay that detects the nucleocapsid protein, using as a reference RT‐PCR method the Cobas®8800 System (Roche Diagnostics). This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary Children's Hospital and included individuals aged ≤16 years with COVID‐19‐related symptoms or epidemiological criteria for COVID‐19. Two nasopharyngeal samples were collected to perform the PANBIO RAD test and RT‐PCR. Of 744 children included, 51 (6.86%) had a positive RT‐PCR result. The RAD test detected 42 of 51 PCR‐positive children while there were no false‐positive results. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 82.35% (95% CI, 71.9%–92.8%) and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity was >95% in symptomatic children. The assay performed poorly in asymptomatically infected children. In agreement with previous studies in adults, the PANBIO RAD test can be useful in screening for COVID‐19 in children admitted with symptoms suggestive of the disease, especially in the first days of the illness.

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Children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection usually have a milder illness, lower mortality rates and may manifest different clinical entities compared with adults. Acute effusive pericarditis is a rare clinical manifestation in patients with COVID-19, especially among those without concurrent pulmonary disease or myocardial injury. We present 2 cases of acute pericarditis, in the absence of initial respiratory or other symptoms, in adolescents with COVID-19.

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ICU indicates intensive care unit. Bold indicates statistically significant value.

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