SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Less Than Forty Days Hospitalized in Belgium Between 2020 and 2022

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Neonatal populations are vulnerable to respiratory infections.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a potential risk to infants.
• Understanding infection severity in neonates is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized infants under 40 days old.
• To compare infection severity across different SARS-CoV-2 variants (Alpha/Delta vs. Omicron).
• To assess outcomes including respiratory support needs, hospital stay duration, and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study involving 365 infants under 40 days old hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2.
• Data collected from 21 Belgian hospitals between 2020 and 2022.
• Analysis of respiratory support requirements, length of hospital stay, and mortality rates.

Main Results:

• 14.2% of hospitalized infants required respiratory support.
• Median hospital stay was 3 days (IQR, 2-4 days).
• No deaths were recorded among the studied infants.
• Infection severity was comparable between the Omicron and Alpha/Delta variant periods.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalized neonates with SARS-CoV-2 infection generally experience mild illness.
• Respiratory support and hospital stay duration were limited.
• No significant difference in severity was observed between major SARS-CoV-2 variants.