Clinical-epidemiological Characteristics of Children Hospitalized with COVID - 19 in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Despite the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, knowledge of the symptomatology, modalities of transmission, severity and prognosis is limited. Based on the complex analysis of the 701 pediatric cases, from 5 public medical-health institutions in the Republic of Moldova, positively diagnosed with SARS - CoV-2 infection by the RT-PCR molecular method, 73% of the children were in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person in the last 14 days until the illness. Most of the hospitalized children develop moderate clinical forms of COVID-19 (84.17% cases). The mean age of children with severe form is lower compared to those with moderate or mild form. The sex of patients does not influence the course of the disease. Children's age influences paternal manifestations: children of preschool age (<7 years) more often show high fever, changes in consciousness, drowsiness, rash, diarrhea and dyspnea, while children > 10 years: headache, pharyngitis, hypo/anosmia, ageusia, myalgia, arthralgia and vertigo. No statistical correlations were found between the form of the disease and the presence of comorbidities. The evolution of pediatric COVID-19 infection is favorable, considering that 97.57% of children do not show clinical manifestations at discharge. Knowledge of various clinical pictures of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus would allow the doctor to make an early diagnosis, administer adequate treatment and establish preventive measures.