Hubungan Antara Peningkatan Kadar C – Reactive Protein (CRP) dan Nilai Absolut Limfosit terhadap Derajat Keparahan Anak yang Terinfeksi Covid-19

Abstract

COVID-19 infection in children is often asymptomatic or mild. However, there is increased reported severe and critical COVID-19 cases in pediatric. A biomarker is needed to predict the severity progression of COVID-19 infection. This study aims to investigate the association between CRP and absolute lymphocytes to pediatric COVID-19 severity. This is a analytic observational study with cross-sectional approach including 271 confirmed by PCR COVID-19 pediatric cases from several hospital in Medan, Indonesia between July 2021 to September 2021. Data on children including demographic, clinical and laboratory findings, severity and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed. Of 271 confirmed COVID-19 pediatric cases, mean age was 7.56 ± 5.75 year old with age group of 1 month - < 1 year as the majority age group (49.4%), 57.9% male. 48% cases were mild, 25.5% cases intermediate, 12.2% severe and 14.4%. Fever (33.2%) and shortness of breath (30.6%) was the most common clinical symptoms. CRP was increased 22.9% cases. There was significant relationship found between increased CRP and COVID-19 case severity in pediatric patient (P value = < 0.001; PR = 3.569, 95%CI 2.457-5.184). There was no significant relationship found between absolute lymphocytes and COVID-19 case severity (p value > 0.05). There is significant relationship between increased CRP and COVID-19 severity in pediatric patients.