The incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still increasing rapidly, but little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of fatal cases in children in Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of children with COVID-19 with fatal outcomes in a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia. This cross-sectional study used data collected from the medical records of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia from March to October 2020. During the study period, 490 patients were admitted and diagnosed with suspected and probable COVID-19. Of these patients, 50 (10.2%) were confirmed to have COVID-19, and 20 (40%) had a fatal outcome. The fatality rate was higher in patients aged ≥10 years, categorized with severe disease upon admission, PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio ≤300 mmHg and chronic underlying diseases. The most common clinical manifestations were generalized symptoms, while acute respiratory distress syndrome (8/20) and septic shock (7/20) were the two most common causes of death. Increased procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase and presepsin levels were found in all fatal cases. One patient met the criteria of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Our work highlights the high mortality rate in paediatric patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test. These findings might be related to or co-incided with COVID-19 infection. Further studies are needed to improve understanding of the role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in elaborating the mechanisms leading to death in children with comorbidities.

Satuan Tugas Imunisasi Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia secara periodik melakukan kaji ulang jadwal imunisasi dengan menyelaraskan dengan buku pedoman imunisasi di Indonesia edisi ke 7 tahun 2024, dan sumber-sumber lainnya. Jadwal imunisasi selalu dievaluasi ulang karena beredarnya vaksin baru yang telah disetujui oleh BPOM dan vaksin yang tidak tersedia lagi di Indonesia. Terdapat beberapa perubahan dalam jadwal imunisasi rekomendasi IDAI tahun 2024 yaitu ketersediaan jenis vaksin, seperti pada pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), vaksin rotavirus, vaksin varisela, vaksin dengue, dan vaksin human papillomavirus (HPV). Agar dalam pelaksanaan lebih mudah, disertakan juga tabel jadwal imunisasi tahun 2024 di akhir.

Objectives. To identify parameters that can improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 screening in the pediatric population according to the demographic, clinical, and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric patients screened for COVID-19 at our hospital. Methods. A cross-sectional study of suspected and confirmed pediatric patients (0–18 years old) with COVID-19 using data from the electronic medical records of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Central Hospital from March to December 2020. Results. From 1,018 data of suspected COVID-19 pediatric patients, there were 94 (9.2%) confirmed cases of COVID-19. The proportions of children with travel history ( ), positive contact history ( ), fever ≥38°C ( ), cough ( ), and abdominal pain ( ) were significantly higher in the confirmed COVID-19 group compared to the non-COVID-19 group. Conclusions. A majority of the confirmed COVID-19 pediatric patients have travel and positive contact history, along with symptoms of fever, cough, and abdominal pain. However, these are nonspecific symptoms that may also be misdiagnosed as other diseases. Improving access and turnaround time of the RT-PCR test is mandatory, as no specific screening variables have been identified.

Background and Objectives: Reports of respiratory function in COVID-19 survivors are still rare, especially in children. This study aims to determine the prevalence and prognostic factors that influence long-term respiratory function in children after COVID-19. Materials and Methods: An observational analytical study with a retrospective cohort design was conducted between January and June 2024. The subjects were pediatric patients aged 5–18 years with confirmed history of COVID-19. Respiratory function was evaluated with spirometry. The analyzed prognostic factors included clinical classification of COVID-19, gender, age, comorbidities, history of ventilator support, history of hospitalization and persistent symptoms. Results: A total of 100 subjects were included in this study. The subjects were 53% female, 52% aged ≥ 12–18 years, and 76% had at least one comorbidity, the most common being obesity (27%). The majority (73%) had a history of mild COVID-19, and 78% were not hospitalized. The prevalence of impaired lung function was 47%, dominated by restrictive lung pattern. The prevalence of long COVID was 18%, with the most common symptom being fatigue (13%). The presence of persistent symptom is significantly associated with abnormal spirometry result (p = 0.03, RR 1.99; 95% CI 1.38–2.87). Undernourished status and moderate-to-severe and critical COVID-19 significantly influence long-term respiratory function with p = 0.002, aOR 5.64; CI 95% 1.89–16.85 and p = 0.006, aOR 5.18; and CI 95% 1.59–16.89, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of impaired lung function in children after COVID-19 was 47%. Persistent symptoms, undernourished status, and moderate-to-critical severity of COVID-19 were found to be associated with impaired long-term respiratory function in post-COVID-19 pediatric patients. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify causal mechanisms.