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Experience at the Department of Pediatrics of a private facility in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021; Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría; Volume: 119; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5546/aap.2021.eng.310

1668-3501

Daniel J. Capra, Gabriela Ucha, Enrique Antoni, Augusto Malfetano, Nelson Wolfsteiner, Pilar Arias, Fabiana de Andrade Nogueira Garcia, Viviana V. Acebedo, Ariel Aruj,

COVID-19 and healthcare impacts

Introduction.Towards the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was identified and became a pandemic.In Argentina, approximately 37 % of the total population lives in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA), where most cases have been diagnosed.The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients and the impact on the operations of the Department of Pediatrics of a private facility located in the AMBA.Methods.Retrospective, observational study conducted at a facility in the west of AMBA between March 12 th and August 31 st , 2020.All patients younger than 16 years diagnosed with COVID-19 were included.Demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics; indication for hospitalization/outpatient followup; number of outpatient visits; hospitalization due to seasonal viral infections; staff on leave; changes in bed availability and health care providers' activities were recorded.Results.There were 5454 pediatric outpatient visits, COVID-19 was suspected in 753/5454 (13.8 %) and 152/753 (20.2 %) were confirmed cases.Their median age was 82 months (interquartile range: 20.5-147 months); 50 % were males.Fever was the most common symptom.In total, 22/152 (14.5 %) patients were hospitalized.Outpatients visits decreased by 87 %; there were no hospitalizations due to seasonal viral infections; and 52.9 % (91/172) of staff took a leave.Conclusions.Most cases were mild, and fever was the main symptom.The department operations were considerably affected in terms of human resources.It is worth noting the need for a logistic organization at the Department of Pediatrics to face such contingency.