Hospitalization and Symptoms of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 in Finland: A Retrospective Registry-based Study

Background COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Pediatric COVID-19 infections are typically mild compared to adults and the prognosis is often good. Our main purpose was to study the need for hospitalization due to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Finland. We also gathered information on the symptoms during COVID-19 infection. Methods This was a retrospective registry-based study. We analyzed data from children under 16 years of age who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during visits to the Emergency Room at the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, between January 29, 2020, and May 31, 2022. We collected information from patient records on the symptoms, their duration, the need for hospitalization and the length of hospital stays. Results During our study, 127 565 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-tests were performed for children under 16 years of age, of which 7% (9 193/127 565) were positive. The hospitalization rate was 1% (99/9 193), and the need for intensive care was 0.2% (14/9 193). The median length of hospital stay was one day (range from 1 to 14 days). Fever was the most common symptom, occurring in 79% (173/220) of children. Respiratory symptoms were also common. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more infrequent. Conclusion The need for hospitalization, particularly intensive care, was low among children with COVID-19. Respiratory symptoms were common, with fever being the most frequently reported symptom.