Characterization of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and adolescents in Latin American and the Caribbean countries: A descriptive study

Introduction Coronavirus diseasse 2019 has been reported un the pediatric population; however, there is limited information in Latin American and the Caribbean countries. Objectives To describe the frequency of cases, deaths, incidence, and case fatality rate attribited to COVID-19 in children and adolescents from Latin American and the Caribbean countries. Methods An descriptive study was carried-out using COVID-19 case registries in children and adolescents published by the Ministries of Health of 19 countries 41 Latin American and the Caribbean countries until May 20, 2020. Cases and deaths were classified by sex and age group. Also, incidence and case fatality rules were calculated for each country. Results A total of 20,757 (4.2%% of all patients) cases of COVID-19 Were repotted in children front 0 to 19 years of age. 52.4% was the group aged 10 to 19 years. 50.6% were male. 130 (0.26%) deaths were reported in children front 0 to 19 years. The accumulated incidence was higher in Chile, Panama, and Peru. The cumulative incidence per 100,000 inhabitants ranged from 1.26 to 77.55 in the population from 0 to 9 years old, 1.57 to 98.84 from 10 to 19 tears old, and 0.91 to 88.34 from 0 to 19 sears old. The case fatality rate in children from 0 to 19 years old ranged from 0 to 9.09% Conclusion In 19 Latin American and the Caribbean count ties, the frequency of cases, cumulative incidence, case fatality rate in children and adolescents was heterogeneous. These results contribute to understanding the epidemiological behavior of this disease in children and adolescents of the countries included in the study.