Clinical and Evolutionary Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children

It has been more than 2 years since COVID-19 pandemic began. Clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children ranged from asymptomatic to severe. A retrospective, non-randomized study was conducted over a period of one year, between January-December 2022, and included 140 patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Pediatric Clinic of the County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta. This study aimed to investigate clinical and evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children who required hospitalization. The results showed a significant number of asymptomatic and mild cases of the disease, but the need for hospitalisation still arises in certain situations. Various clinical manifestations were observed, mainly respiratory, from common cold symptoms to severe manifestations with respiratory distress syndrome, but also gastrointestinal or haematological manifestations (coagulopathies). Children have different risk factors compared to adults for progression to severe form of the disease.