Pediatric COVID-19 and Appendicitis: A Gut Reaction to SARS-CoV-2?

Background: We describe the temporal pattern of COVID-19 admissions to a tertiary care children's hospital in central New Jersey during the SARS-CoV-2 surge, covering the time period from March 29 to July 26, 2020.

Methods: Medical charts were reviewed for the date of admission, past medical history, and demographic variables, presenting signs and symptoms, admitting laboratory values, diagnostic imaging, diagnosis, treatment modalities, and outcomes including length of stay and disease severity.

Results: Patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection tended to present with pneumonia early during the study period, which coincided with the early surge in New Jersey cases.