Perception and Management of COVID-19 Among Allergic Children: An Italian Survey.
Abstract Background There is ample evidence that COVID-19 is significantly less severe in children than in adults and it has been reported that asthma and allergy, the most prevalent chronic disorders in children, are not included in the top 10 comorbidities associated with COVID-19 fatalities. Nevertheless, there would seem that the concerns about asthma and the risk of disease and related outcomes are still high. In order to assess these features, we conducted a 20-question anonymous internet-based survey among Italian paediatricians. Methods The questionnaire was conceived and pretested in April 2020, by a working group of experts of the Italian Paediatric Society for Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP). The survey was emailed once between April and mid-May 2020. Participants were allowed to complete only a single survey.Results A total 99 participants had taken part in our survey and provided responses to our electronic questionnaire. The distribution of patients reported per month varies significantly according to the geographical area (P=0.02). Data confirmed that in the North part of Italy the rate of patients referred is higher than in the rest of Italy. Almost all respondents (98%) reported caring for up to a maximum of 10 infecting children and the last 2% more than twenty. Among these patients, according to the 75% of responders, a maximum rate of 20% were affected by allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and in particular in the North of Italy while in the Centre and in the South there was a higher incidence (P=0.09). Almost the same applies for asthma, 83% of responders declared that up to a maximum of 20% of affected children were asthmatic, from 20% to 40% for the 13,5% of responders and from 40% to 60% for the last 3,5%. As for the allergic conjunctivitis also for asthma, we found a higher incidence in the Centre and in South than in the North (P=0.03).Conclusions This study is the first to provide a comprehensive review of COVID-19 knowledge and perceptions among paediatricians in Italy. From our point of view, it provides important information clearly useful for improving a good practice.