COVID19 treatment

General paediatrics, Infectious disease, Rheumatology

Death from COVID19 usually from cytokine storm and multi-organ failure (often resulting in secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis).

NICE has risk factors for young people 12-16yrs:

  • Complex life limiting neurodisability

Otherwise you need 2 of the following to justify treatment in ill (hospitalised) patient:

  • Primary immunodeficiency:
  • Secondary immunodeficiency viz:
    • HIV with CD4 count less than 200 cells per mm3
    • solid organ transplant
    • stem cell transplant (HSCT) within 12 months, or with graft versus host disease (GVHD)
    • CAR-T cell therapy in last 24 months
    • induction chemotherapy for ALL etc
  • Immunosuppressive treatment:
    • chemotherapy within the last 3 months
    • cyclophosphamide within the last 3 months
    • corticosteroids greater than 2 mg per kg per day for 28 days in last 4 weeks
    • B-cell depleting treatment in the last 12 months
  • Other conditions:
    • high body mass index (BMI; greater than 95th centile)
    • severe respiratory disease (for example, cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis with FEV1 less than 60%)
    • tracheostomy or long-term ventilation
    • severe asthma (paediatric intensive care unit [PICU] admission in 12 months)
    • neurodisability and/or neurodevelopmental disorders
    • severe cardiac/chronic kidney/liver disease
    • sickle cell disease or other severe haemoglobinopathy
    • trisomy 21
    • complex or chromosomal genetic or metabolic conditions associated with significant comorbidity, multiple congenital anomalies associated with significant comorbidity
    • bronchopulmonary dysplasia – decisions should be made taking into account degree of prematurity at birth and chronological age
    • infants less than 1 year with cyanotic CHD, or haemodynamically significant acyanotic CHD with history of prematurity, or those due for corrective surgery (to avoid complications or delay)

Steroids

WHO recommends dexamethasone 150mcg/kg once daily for 10 days for severe/critical COVID19 disease, on basis of REACT metanalysis.

Severe defined as any of:

  • Sats <90%
  • Tachypnoea (>30 in over 5s, >40 over 2 etc)
  • Severe respiratory distress

Critical defined as ARDS, septic shock or anything else that would require critical care.

Remdesivir

For Patients at ‘high risk’ of complications (as above, in particular immunocompromise) plus:

  • >4 weeks of age and at least 3kg 
  • Within 10 days of symptoms onset

NOT for patients requiring ventilatory support unless high risk, and not for ALT > 5x upper limit of normal .

5mg/kg loading dose on day 1, followed by 2.5mg/kg once a day for 4 days. May be extended to 10 days in immunocompromised.

Toculizimab is an option for pneumonitis.

Prophylaxis for high risk patients is available:

  • Remdesivir 3 days once daily infusions
  • Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir +Ritonavir) 300/150mg BD for 5 days

Neutralising antibodies have also been tried but not in guidance.

Sotrovimab [NO LONGER AVAILABLE] – for 12-16yrs, pre-hospitalisation, PCR positive and onset of symptoms within previous 5 days. Not if new oxygen requirement or weight under 40kg. 1% vs 7% placebo hospitalisation or death (85% reduction).