The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Emergency Department and Management of the Pediatric Asthmatic Patient

Figures & data

Figure 1 (A) Visit rate, (B) number of patients and patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR. (A) the diagnoses asthma-emergency department, asthma-hospitalization and bronchiolitis are compared with these diagnoses of the previous year, but not between them. (B) ED: emergency department.

Table 1 Demographic and Clinic Characteristics

	Pre-COVID-19	COVID-19	P
Age (median – interquartile range)	3.8 (1.4–7.5)	4.1 (1.7–8.7)	0.593
Group of age (n and %) <3 years 3–6 years >6 years	70 (44.3%) 34 (21.5%) 54 (34.2%)	11 (36.7%) 10 (33.3%) 9 (30%)	0.372
Sex (n and %) Male Female	93 (58.9%) 65 (41.1%)	18 (60%) 12 (40%)	0.907
FeveR (n and %)	73 (46.2%)	16 (53.3%)	0.473
Previous inhaler treatment (n and %)	51 (29.3%)	7 (21.9%)	0.390
Oxygen saturation % (median – interquartile range)	96 (94–98)	96.5 (95–98)	0.437
Score (HSJD/PS) (n and %) Mild Moderate Severe	93 (59.6%) 55 (35.3%) 8 (5.1%)	14 (50%) 13 (46.4%) 1 (3.6%)	0.523

Table 2 Complementary Tests and Treatment

	Pre-COVID-19	COVID-19	P
Complementary tests
1. Chest Radiography	36 (24.7%)	5 (18.5%)	0.625
2. Blood test	2 (1.4%)	0 (0%)	1
3. Pharyngeal or nasopharyngeal culture	4 (2.7%)	1 (3.7%)	0.577
4. SARS-CoV-2 PCR test	0 (0%)	1 (3.7%)
Treatment
1. Salbutamol			<0.001
Nebulizer	133 (84.2%)	7 (23.3%)
Inhaler	5 (3.2%)	11 (36.7%)
Direct at home	20 (12.7%)	12 (40%)
2. Ipratropium	78 (49.4%)	7 (23.3%)	0.009
3. Steroids	89 (56.3%)	18 (60%)	0.710
4. Antibiotic therapy	31 (19.6%)	7 (23.3%)	0.891
5. Respiratory support  With respiratory support:	16 (10.1%)	2 (6.67%)	0.743
Oxygen (nasal or Ventimask)	12 (7.59%)	2 (6.67%)
OAF	4 (2.53%)	0 (0%)
VNI/VM	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Table 3 Results of Sputum Culturing and Chest Radiography

		Pre-COVID- 19	COVID-19
Cultures	Number of cultures	12	3
	Positive	9	2
	Coinfection	5	1
Results	Rhinovirus	3	1
	Parainfluenza virus type 3	3	0
	Adenovirus	2	1
	Coronavirus NL63	2	0
	Metapneumovirus	2	0
	Enterovirus	2	1
	Bocavirus	1	0
Chest Radiography (number abnormal/total radiography)	Emergency department	18/36	4/5
	Hospitalization	3/4	1/2
	Bronchiolitis	1/2	0