Researchers analyzed data on over 300,000 COVID-19-related hospitalizations and 5,364 involved children within 22 states between May 15 and November 15. Research found that the average cumulative pediatric hospitalization rate increased from 2 per 100,000 children to 17.2 per 100,000 children during the study period. The findings published in JAMA Pediatrics, show the trends in children are “concerning,” researchers said.
What is really concerning for South Dakota is the growing rate noted in the study. Rates in South Dakota have increased to 31.2 per 100,000 children. While most children are much less likely to develop serious illness with COVID-19, some children will become very ill and develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Providers should educate parents and caregivers on COVID-19 symptoms and on the early signs of decline that can be associated with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
