Clinical features of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at a single isolation centre in Ghana

Background: Children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who do not require hospitalisation must isolate to prevent the virus’s spread. Objective: This study describes the prevalence, characteristics, source of infection, and treatment outcome among children with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 admitted to Ghana’s largest isolation centre. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study among children 0-18 years admitted to Pentecost Convention Isolation Centre in Ghana between April 24 and August 31, 2020. We extracted their clinical details and patient outcome information from their medical records. Results: The number of children enrolled was 57, with a median age of 16 years (interquartile range: 12 – 17 years). The most common symptom was a headache. Most of the participants admitted from school attributed their source of infection to a school colleague. One patient required transfer to a hospital while the rest were discharged home after de-isolation. Conclusion: Children with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 were managed successfully in a facility repurposed as an isolation centre. The use of repurposed isolation centres can reduce hospital care load during this pandemic. As schools re-open fully, school authorities must collaborate closely with public health institutions for rapid testing of all persons suspected to have COVID-19, to initiate early contact tracing and isolate those who are positive.