Out-of-hospital deaths among children during COVID-19 pandemic: indicator of collateral damage?. Issue 1 (13th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harve-Rytsälä, Heini; Puhakka, Laura; Kuisma, Markku; Kuitunen, Mikael; Oulasvirta, Jelena; Salmi, Heli
• Is Part Of: BMJ paediatrics open. Volume 4:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08-13
• Subjects: mortality -- ethics -- health services research; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000763
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-9772

Abstract

Abstract : We aimed to investigate the out-of-hospital mortality, and the actual prevalence of COVID-19 in children requiring paediatric emergency department (ED) care for infectious symptoms. There were four emergency medical services (EMS) responses concerning children (age 0–15 years) leading to death on-scene in 2 months during the pandemic, and eight during the previous 12 months in the Helsinki University Hospital area, although the number of EMS missions decreased by 18%. The prevalence of COVID-19 in children contacting a paediatric ED for any infectious symptoms during the epidemic peak was only 2.7%.