Introduction:

COVID-19 in pediatric ages presents unique features; a small number of pediatric patients develop severe clinical status.

Objectives:

To evaluate whether lymphocytopenia is a predictor of severity in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Methods:

In 706 patients were studied the variables age, sex, personal pathological history of childhood chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus), comorbidities, clinical status, lymphocyte values, absolute lymphocyte count (≤ 1 x 109/L = lymphocytopenia). According to clinical status patients were grouped into 5 groups, from asymptomatic to critical. The correlation between clinical status and absolute lymphocyte count was determined; its discriminative capacity to estimate prognosis was determined.

Results:

The mean age was 8.6 years; 6.2% of patients progressed to severe or critical condition; 74.6% had normal lymphocyte values, 16.14% high and 9.2% low. Lymphocytopenia presented 4.2%; it was significantly correlated with severe condition, area under the curve of 0.711 (95% CI: 0.595-0.827); 46% sensitivity and 98% specificity.

Conclusions:

Lymphocytopenia is a biomarker that can estimate prognosis in pediatric patients with COVID-19 who develop severe clinical status.

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