Arkansas data indicate delta's severe toll on children

Arkansas health officials reported COVID-19 case data during IDWeek that demonstrate the severe toll the delta variant has had on the state’s children.

During a July peak, although the number of pediatric COVID-19 cases was lower than the last peak in January, hospitalizations and other indications of severe disease increased significantly, according to Michael Cima, PhD, MPH, state epidemiologist for the Arkansas Department of Health, and colleagues.

Cima conducted the research with Infectious Diseases in Children Editorial Board Member José R. Romero, MD, the state’s secretary of health, and Donald E. Warden, MPH, another epidemiologist in the department.

During a presentation, Cima noted that the delta variant became the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus in Arkansas in June and early July.

“Growing evidence suggests that the delta variant is not only far more infectious than the next most infectious variant of concern, but it's also potentially more virulent, so naturally the question has been asked, How does the delta variant impact the pediatric population? Is a more severe disease being observed?” Cima said.

The researchers examined pediatric records for the 3 months they called “key inflection points” for the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas: July 2020, January 2021 and July 2021. They reviewed rates of hospitalization and ICU use, use of mechanical ventilation and, “to a lesser extent,” multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), Cima said.

Data showed that pediatric COVID-19 cases numbered 3,268 in July 2020, 11,735 in January 2021 and 8,031 in July 2021. Despite nearly 32% fewer cases occurring in July 2021 compared with January, there were around 42% more hospitalizations (105 vs. 74), 69% more ICU admissions (18 vs. 11) and a 300% increase in the use of mechanical ventilation, Cima and colleagues reported.

Cima said PICU bed availability reached single digits in the entire state. He also noted that the state observed fewer MIS-C cases over the summer but that it was possible that cases would increase because there is usually a delay between infection and the appearance of MIS-C symptoms.

References:

• Romero, J, et al. Abstract LB10. Presented at: IDWeek; Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2021 (virtual meeting).