Post-discharge telephonic follow-up of pediatric patients affected by SARS-CoV2 infection: a safe and feasible way to monitor children after hospitalization.The experience of a single Italian Pediatric COVID Center.

Abstract BackgroundIn early January 2020, a novel type of Coronavirus was identified in a patient affected by pneumonia of unknown origin. The virus will be named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19 a month later by the International Committee on Virus Taxonomy.Italy is one of the first countries in the world affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.2% of all patients represented by children. Although the infection in children is often non severe and in the majority of cases does not require long term hospitalization, it is burdened with social issues and managing difficulties.To our knowledge there is no literature on telephonic follow up in pediatric patients with positive rhino-pharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 after discharge.Materials and MethodsWe monitored through a telephonic follow-up, using a specific survey, 19 children aged between 8 months and 15 years, hospitalized in the “Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù” COVID Center with positive rhino-pharyngeal swab at discharge. We checked if any symptoms occurred at home until recovery, defined as two consecutive negative rhino-pharyngeal swabs.ResultsDuring the follow up 7 patients had mild and self-limited symptoms related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, while 2 patients were re-hospitalized, 1 patient had Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), the other patient had an increase in troponin a D-dimers.We didn’t miss any patient during the follow up.ConclusionWe demonstrated that daily telephonic follow up is safe in pediatric patients discharged with positive swab, it allows to avoid long term hospitalization and to promptly re-hospitalize children with major complication such as MIS-C.