Coronavirus disease‐19 deaths among children and adolescents in an area of Northeast, Brazil: why so many?

Objective: To describe COVID-19 deaths among children and adolescents in Sergipe, Brazil.

Methods: This was an ecological study of all COVID-19 reported cases and deaths occurring in children and adolescents < 19 years of age in Sergipe reported by the health surveillance and mortality information systems of Sergipe’s Health Secretary and hospital records.

Results: 37 deaths in children <19 years old were reported up to the 30th September, corresponding to 4.87 deaths for 100,000 population < 19 years old. Most deaths occurred among infants (n=15; 41%) and this age group had the highest case fatality rate (15.3 %). Most children had comorbidities such as chronic neurological diseases (n=7; 19%) and prematurity (n=4; 11%). Most children who died (n=18; 49%) were not admitted to the intensive care units (ICU).

Conclusion: COVID-19 mortality in children and adolescents in Sergipe was higher than in other Brazilian states and in high income countries. A high proportion of the deaths occurred among children with co-morbidities and a minority of children were admitted to ICU, reflecting the limited provision of these beds in the State. Newborns and infants are a high risk group that must have priority in health public policy.