ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-Co- V 2 infection has a global impact, being declared by the WHO pandemic since march 2020. The pediatric population is also affected, according to the latest data in approximately 18% of cases. Children endure the disease in milder forms compared to adults. The clinical picture is dominated by catarrhal respiratory signs, febrile syndrome, cough. Radiological investigations are designed to assess the stage of the disease, the affected lung volume and the complications present. Aim.The evaluation of radiological and clinical changes in children with COVID-19 infection correlated with age. Method(s): The study includes 64 children hospitalized in the COVID-19 department of the IMSP Mother and Child Institute. The study sample was divided into 5 groups, with the age: 0-1 month, 1-12 months, 1-3 years, 3-7 years, > 7 years. The mean age was 2.04 +/- 0.38 years. All patients were evaluated according to clinical manifestations and chest radiography. Result(s): The largest share among hospitalized children up to one year -33%. Frequent hospitalization of these children is due to immune system and anatomical features of the respiratory tract. The severe debut of the disease presented the newborns (58.3%: 95% CI 27.67-84.83) and children up to one year (52.4%: 95% CI 29,78-74,29), caused by febrile syndrome in 48.4%: 95% CI 35,75-61.27, chi2 = 3,18, p > 0.5, catarrhal respiratory signs in 50%: 95% CI 37,23-62,77, chi2 = 3.49, p > 0.4, cough in 63.5%: 95% CI 52.19-78.19, chi2 = 5.5, p > 0.05. The most common radiological change in children with COVID-19 infection is the interstitial inflammation "ground-glass". It has a frequency of about 60% in all study groups, with maximum enrollment in children up to one year 66.7%: 95% CI, 34.9-90 and in children aged 1-3 years -57.1%: 95% CI, 38.6-90.9, chi2 = 0.9, p > 0.05. Pneumonic infiltrations is detected in 40%, with the maximum enrollment in children up to one year (42.9%: 95% CI, 21.8-66) and pre-school children (57.1%: 95% CI, 21.5 -69,2) chi2 = 0.44, p > 0.05. Conclusion(s): Children up to one year of age needed more frequent hospitalization due to the severe onset of the disease. The predominant clinical manifestations is fever, catarrhal respiratory signs and cough. The most common radiological change in children with COVID-19 infection is the interstitial inflammation "ground-glass".