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Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations along with the laboratory and radiographic findings in the local pediatric population in order to better understand the novel corona virus and its implications on the pediatric age group. Method:The Pediatric Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia (PERSONA) study, a retrospective cohort, was conducted at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to analyse the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of pediatric patients confirmed to have the novel coronavirus through PCR for COVID-19 taken via nasopharyngeal swabs from March 1, 2020 to May 13, 2020.Result: Approximately 54% (13/24) were male and 46% (11/24) were female. Patients ages ranged from 13 days to 17 years with an average of about 8.4 years and a standard deviation of 5.87 years. Leucopoenia was present in 4/22 patients, while 75% had normal white blood cell counts. Neutropenia was evident in 25% (6/22) of patients while 83.3% (20/22) of patients exhibited normal lymphocyte counts. Eosinopenia was the striking finding in 75% (18/22) of those in the study while only four (16.7%) of the COVID-19 patients showed normal eosinophil counts. Conclusion:Eosinopenia may be a sign of less severe infection in children and therefore should be further studied. More research is needed in the region to better understand the implications of the novel corona virus and whether disease course and burden differs across nations and from adults to pediatrics. What's Known on this Subject:The novel corona virus first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019. This virus is spread by respiratory droplets and initially infects the respiratory system. Most studies done to present day have been on the effect of the virus in adults. What this Study Adds:This study explores the effect of COVID-19 on children in Saudi Arabia and whether their clinical, laboratory and radiological features are similar to children in China. This study will help to better understand the disease course in this age group.

Background: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by reversible airway obstruction due to bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is one of the most common chronic diseases. In Saudi Arabia, asthma affects 2 million people with asthma frequency in children markedly higher than adults with regional variations ranging from 9% to 33.7%. Objective: The aim of this study is to measure asthma awareness and knowledge of study participants during the ongoing annual Saudi asthma awareness campaigns and compare them with previous survey data conducted in 2014. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the form of a survey distributed across three major cities in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, during the National Asthma Awareness Campaign in major regional shopping centers in April 2019. Asthma knowledge scores across different demographic groups were generated from surveyed data. Descriptive and correlative statistical analyses were performed to identify factors associated with changes in asthma knowledge. Scores were compared to previous survey results. Results: The mean score for asthma knowledge was 15.6 out of 25. Asthma knowledge significantly correlated with age (P=0.002), asthma status of the participants (P=0.001), having children with asthma (P=0.005) or knowing friends or family with asthma (P=0.029) but not with other socioeconomic factors such as gender, marital status, occupation, level of education and number of children in the family (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in the asthma scores from 2014 (M= 63%, SD=26) to 2019 (M= 70%, SD= 26) conditions; t (24) = −2.106, p=0.046. Conclusion: Further educational campaigns are necessary to enhance and measure general public awareness of asthma, its differential diagnosis against other respiratory infections, environmental triggers, risk factors as well as treatment options.

ObjectiveTo describe the risk factors, clinical profile and outcomes of COVID-19 in the paediatric population.DesignMulticentre, retrospective observational study.SettingFour tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia.PatientsWe recruited 390 paediatric patients aged 0–18 years who presented from March to December 2020 and tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR.Main outcome measuresWe retrospectively analysed medical records for sociodemographics, health indicators, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, clinical complications, and outcomes.ResultsThe mean participant age was 5.66±4.90 years, and the mean hospital stay was 2.17±3.48 days. Forty patients, mostly school-aged children (16, 40.00%; p=0.005) and children with comorbidities (25, 62.50%; p<0.001), received more than just supportive care. Complications were seen in 15 (3.9%) patients, bacterial infection being the most common (6, 40.00%). Patients presented with dyspnoea (OR 6.89; 95% CI 2.89 to 20.72), abnormal chest radiographs (OR 6.11; 95% CI 1.26 to 29.38), lethargy (OR 9.04; 95% CI 2.91 to 28.06) and elevated ferritin (OR 14.21; 95% CI 4.18 to 48.37) and D-dimer (OR 48.40; 95% CI 14.32 to 163.62), with higher odds of developing complications. The odds of paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admission were higher for patients with dyspnoea (adjusted OR 4.66; 95% CI 1.24 to 17.50) and elevated white blood cell count (adjusted OR 3.54; 95% CI 1.02 to 12.30).ConclusionsCOVID-19 complications were limited among our patients. However, dyspnoea, abnormal chest radiographs, lethargy and elevated ferritin and D-dimer were associated with an increased risk of complications. Dyspnoea, leucocytosis, comorbidities and abnormal chest radiographs at presentation increased the risk of ICU admission.

Introduction. Local data in Saudi Arabia regarding pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. This study is aimed at adding insight regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus on pediatric patients by studying the presentation, laboratory parameters, and disposition of SARS-CoV-2-infected pediatric patients in one center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology. A retrospective study was conducted at the International Medical Center (IMC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess features of pediatric patients admitted with COVID-19 from April 2020 to September 2020. Results. A total of 43 patients were found to meet the study inclusion criteria. The most common presenting symptom was fever (53.5%) in study participants followed by complaints of cough, runny nose, and shortness of breath (37.2%). Lymphocytopenia was evident among 60% of those studied. Elevated C-Reactive Protein was remarkable in 24.9%. More than half of those (53.5%) studied required only supportive treatment. Conclusion. COVID-19 disease for the most part is mild in children with a varying clinical picture and nonspecific laboratory parameters. Further, large-scale national-based studies are needed to help in the early identification of pediatric cases at risk of complication due to COVID-19 infection hence providing proper and timely management, identifying population-specific disease pattern and perhaps targeted immunization.