Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40089722›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2025

Comparative analysis of croup severity and treatment in pediatric patient: a study of COVID-19 positive vs. negative cases during peak Omicron.

Fatemeh Pourjoula, Seyed Hossein Mirlohi, Niloufar Ghanbari

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Fatemeh PourjoulaTehran University of Medical Sciences, school of medicine, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Hossein MirlohiPediatric Respiratory Disease and Sleep Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Niloufar GhanbariEmergency devision, school of medicine, Bahrami hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. niloufargh67@yahoo.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with unique clinical presentations in children, including croup-like symptoms such as barking cough, hoarseness, and respiratory distress. This study aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory, and treatment characteristics of hospitalized pediatric patients with croup who tested positive or negative for COVID-19 during the Omicron wave.

methodsA retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 111 pediatric patients hospitalized with croup at Bahrami Children's Hospital and the Children's Medical Center in Iran from January 21 to March 20, 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups: PCR-positive (Omicron group, n = 30) and PCR-negative (non-Omicron group, n = 81). Data on demographics, clinical severity, laboratory indices, treatments, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

resultsThe mean age of the Omicron group was significantly younger (16.93 ± 24.80 months) compared to the non-Omicron group (32.58 ± 37.26 months; p = 0.049). Symptom severity was higher in the Omicron group, with moderate to severe symptoms observed in 73.4% of patients, compared to 32.1% in the non-Omicron group (p = 0.001). The Omicron group had longer hospital stays (2.59 ± 3.93 vs. 2.11 ± 2.75 days; p = 0.016) and required more nebulized epinephrine (2.47 ± 1.27 vs. 1.77 ± 1.003 days; p = 0.003) and repeat corticosteroid doses (83.3% vs. 38.3%; p = 0.0001). Laboratory findings showed no significant differences between the groups (all p > 0.05).

conclusionChildren with croup during the Omicron surge exhibited increased symptom severity, required more intensive treatment, and experienced longer hospital stays compared to those without COVID-19. These findings emphasize the need for heightened clinical awareness and tailored management strategies for Omicron-related croup in pediatric populations.

Indexed as

COVID-19CroupSARS-CoV-2ChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantIranMaleRetrospective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexChildrenCOVID-19CroupHospitalizationOmicron variantPediatric respiratory illness

Identifiers

PMID40089722
PMCPMC11909977

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.