Mortality and morbidity in children and adolescents due to COVID-19 in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the study is to characterize the profile of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 and childhood multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19, MIS-C (or SIM-P) in children and adolescents. Databases and official documents from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed. The number of deaths was obtained from the Civil Registry Transparency Website (2020-2021) and from the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System (2019). The general and COVID-19 mortality rate standardized by sex and age group for each states was calculated. Data on MIS-C were obtained from epidemiological bulletins from UF and the federal government (2020-2021). In the analyzed period, 2,190 deaths from COVID-19 were recorded, 77.7% of which were adolescents. The general mortality rate in children and adolescents was 16.6 per 10,000 inhabitants and that of COVID-19 was 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; the mortality rate differed between states and age groups. MIS-C was reported in 24 of the 27 states in 2020-2021, with the highest incidence in the Federal District. We discuss the recommendation of professional qualification for the diagnosis and assistance of MIS-C cases in Brazil. Drastic measures are needed to contain the epidemic, especially among adolescents, whose number of deaths has been growing over time. There is disagreement about the safety of face-to-face school classes, because with the epidemic out-of-control, the crowding of young people should be avoided. COVID-19 has short and long-term consequences, which may compromise the health of children and adolescents, interfering with their integral development, adequate socialization, school performance and, in the future, their full insertion in society.