VARIATION OF CLINICAL PATTERNS OF COVID-19 DISEASE IN CHILDREN IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PANDEMIC
Authors:   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Spatariu Luminita ,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Buzoianu Eugenia ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Davitoiu A.M. ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Chindris Sorina ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Zamfirescu Andrei ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Iancu Mirela ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Ghiorghiu Ioana ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Tincu Iulia ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Dorobantu A. ,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Plesca Vlad ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Matei Bals” National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Bucharest, Romania, Plesca Doina Anca ,   Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,   “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
Published: August 2021

Introduction. SARS-CoV-2 infection has put humanity to the test since December 2019, quickly becoming a global public health problem. There is a significant difference between the pediatric population versus the adult population in terms of infection rate, modes of transmission, clinical manifestations. The study aimed to identify some patterns of clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population in “Dr. Victor Gomoiu“ Children’s Clinical Hospital in 2020, also following any possible variations between the first two waves of the pandemic. Materials and methods. The study was based on the descriptive observational analysis of two groups of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, corresponding to the two pandemic waves. Patients were classified into some clinical patterns, using the definition of suspected / confirmed case established by the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) and transmitted through the National Center for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases (CNSCBT), as well as the recommendations of the international guidelines and protocols. Results. There are found to be present some mild clinical forms of the disease secondary to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, most children showing digestive symptoms. Starting with August (Group 2) there is a significant increase in the number of cases, as well as the appearance of a larger number of cases that associated respiratory symptoms. Conclusions. The study is showing the low impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the pediatric population, compared to adults, especially in the first wave of the pandemic, the children having been considered “the hidden victims” of the pandemic, rather than its face. It is considered necessary the long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infected children, as the remote consciousness of the infection having been incompletely elucidated. Analyzing the epidemiological data obtained in the study, we are concluding the need for some sustained global efforts to define, more clearly, the variations in the patterns of the presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, in the context of the evolution of the pandemic.