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Aim: Sweden initially chose a different disease prevention and control path during the pandemic than many other European countries. In June 2020, the Swedish Government established a National Commission to examine the management of COVID‐19 in Sweden. This paper summarises, and discusses, its findings. Methods: Three reports published by the Commission were analysed. The first focused on the care of older people during the pandemic. The second examined disease and infection transmission and control and health care and public health. The third updated the first two reports and also covered economic aspects, crisis management and public communication. Results: By 25 February 2022, when the final report was published, 15 800 individuals, 1.5 per 1000 Swedish inhabitants, had died after COVID‐19. The death rates were high in spring 2020, but overall excess mortality in 2020–2021 was +0.79%, which was lower than in many other European countries. The Commission suggested that the voluntary measures that were adopted were appropriate and maintained Swedes' personal freedom during the pandemic. However, more extensive and earlier measures should have been taken, especially during the first wave. Conclusion: The Swedish COVID‐19 Commission felt that earlier and more extensive pandemic action should have been taken, particularly during the first wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Most children with COVID‐19 have mild symptoms, but data on the Omicron variant are rare. This paper describes unexpected cases with convulsions during 1 week in January 2022. Methods: Four children with COVID‐19 were admitted with convulsions to the paediatric department in Örebro, Sweden, when Omicron accounted for more than 98% of the country's COVID‐19 cases. Three children tested positive for the virus, and one had clinical COVID‐19. I was able to contact the parents of three boys, who gave consent for these case studies. Results: Two boys aged 3 and 21 months tested positive for the virus and a 14‐year‐old boy tested negative, but had a cold and family members who had tested positive. The teenager had a history of urinary tract infections, but the younger boys had no earlier comorbidities. None had a history of epilepsy or febrile convulsions. The younger children had a fever and the teenager had upper respiratory symptoms. The 3‐month‐old child had repeated convulsions for several hours, the 21‐month‐old had continuous convulsions for 15–20 min, and the teenager had a convulsion for 30–60 s, followed by uncharacteristic aggression. Conclusion: Convulsions may be a sign of the Omicron variant in children with COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: COVID‐19 has affected millions of people worldwide. This paper reviews the Swedish pandemic response. Methods: A narrative review was carried out and a timeline constructed. Results: By September 1, 2020, 0.8% of Swedish residents had tested positive for the virus and 0.06% of the population had died, which was higher than neighbouring Nordic countries, but lower than some European countries with general lockdowns. The main actors were the Public Health Agency, the National Board of Health and Welfare, the Civil Contingencies Agency and the Government. County councils and regions implemented policies, in conjunction with the Department of Education and county administrative boards. Sweden's response was less invasive than many other countries, with no general lockdown. It focused on mitigation: slowing, but not stopping, the pandemic. Physical distancing was recommended in public spaces, but mandatory in bars, restaurants and at events. Visits to nursing facilities were banned. Kindergartens and schools for children up to 16 stayed open, but closed for older children for three months. There were no enforced quarantines for infected households or geographical regions, and facemasks were not recommended outside health care. Conclusion: Sweden chose a different pandemic strategy to its peer nations. This paper examines the first eight months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Many countries have closed schools and kindergartens to minimise COVID-19, but the role that children play in disease transmission is unclear.Methods: A systematic literature review of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and medRxiv/bioRxiv preprint servers to 11 May 2020 identified published and unpublished papers on COVID-19 transmission by children.Results: We identified 700 scientific papers and letters and 47 full texts were studied in detail. Children accounted for a small fraction of COVID-19 cases and mostly had social contacts with peers or parents, rather than older people at risk of severe disease. Data on viral loads were scarce, but indicated that children may have lower levels than adults, partly because they often have fewer symptoms, and this should decrease the transmission risk. Household transmission studies showed that children were rarely the index case and case studies suggested that children with COVID-19 seldom caused outbreaks. However, it is highly likely that children can transmit the SARS-COV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, and even asymptomatic children can have viral loads.Conclusion: Children are unlikely to be the main drivers of the pandemic. Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 mortality rates in older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic in March 2020, fever and respiratory symptoms were the indications for virus testing in our hospital. As data have continued to accumulate worldwide, gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, cutaneous and ocular symptoms have been reported for confirmed COVID‐19 cases. There have been few case reports on problems with taste and smell in paediatric COVID‐19. However, new symptoms can provide diagnostic and testing criteria for patients with no other clinical presentation, especially in older children. Conclusion: This paper looks at the taste and smell problems reported in paediatric patients and shares insights from our hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]