Epidemiological, Clinical, Laboratory, and Imaging Features and Treatment of Children with COVID-19 in Kosovo

Background: This study aimed to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features and treatment options of children with COVID-19 in Kosovo. Methods and Results: This retrospective study analyzed the hospitalization records of all children at the Department of Pediatrics of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 16 and December 31, 2022. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by PCR performed on nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs. The recorded case characteristics included age, sex, disease onset and diagnosis dates, and family and contact information. The collected clinical data comprised the duration and severity of symptoms and treatment. Laboratory parameters such as complete blood count, biochemical tests, chest X-ray, and chest computed tomography (CT) were also documented. One hundred and seventy-six pediatric COVID-19 cases were confirmed, with boys accounting for 59.65% (n = 105) and girls for 40.35% (n = 71). The median age was 62 months (1–210) for girls and 44.6 months (1-204) for boys. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and dyspnea. Twenty-six patients (14.77%) had underlying diseases among the total cases. Laboratory findings included elevated ESR in 39.77% of cases, high CRP level (38.63%), high WBC count (46.02%), and high AST level (56.25%). Chest X-rays were normal in the majority of patients. Pathological CT scans were found in 77.78% of cases. Antibiotics and rehydration were commonly used for treatment. Conclusion: This is one of the largest pediatric data sets about confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kosovo. Children of all ages appear to be susceptible to COVID-19. Based on available data, children have lower rates of hospitalization compared to adults with COVID-19, indicating that children may experience less severe illness than adults. However, research indicates that the incidence and frequency of cases have been progressively rising.