Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 among children in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

ABSTRACT

Objective - To present the characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated at the Pediatrics Department, Ilidza Primary Health Care, The Public Institution Health Centre of Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods - This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 56 children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 - May 2021. The parameters included were aged 0-6 years, gender, clinical signs and symptoms, type of transmission, the presence of comorbidities, vaccination with Bacillus Calmette - Guerin (BCG) vaccine, laboratory and radiology results, and treatment. Results - Out of a total of children 57.1% were aged 3-6 years. There were 58.9% boys and 41.1% girls, 36 children had symptoms and 20 were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms were fever (57.1%) and cough (35.7%). 44 children had a mild form of the disease and they were treated at home with counseling by a pediatrician over the phone, 10 children required outpatient treatment by a pediatrician, 2 were hospitalized. After treatment, all of them recovered. Most of the children (83.9%) were infected by transmission from a household member. Conclusions - COVID-19 in children is generally a mild disease. Children with SARS-CoV-2 were mostly infected by contact with an adult, and transmission from children is minimal. Most children were treated symptomatically at home, only a small number were hospitalized.