Diagnostic criteria in severe paediatric infection with the SARS-CoV-2
| Items | Symptoms |
| 1 | Continuous high fever lasting longer than 3 days |
| 2 | Shortness of breath (without in an episode of fever or crying): <2 months old, RR>60 times/min; 2–12 months old, RR>50 times/min; 1–5 years old, RR>40 times/min; >5 years old, RR>30 times/min |
| 3 | SpO2<93% at resting state |
| 4 | Symptoms of dyspnoea |
| 5 | Lethargic sleep or convulsions |
| 6 | Refusing food or difficulty feeding, with signs of dehydration |
A child with any one of the following was considered as having a severe case of COVID-19.
RR, respiratory rate; SpO2, saturation of oxygen.