Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 among Children: A Multicenter Study in Kuwait

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Directorate of Public Health, Farwaniya Health Region, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.

2 Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine [For Girls], Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Children represent a growing proportion of confirmed COVID-19 cases. While pediatric COVID-19 is generally milder than in adults, gaps remain in understanding its epidemiology in Kuwait. This study aimed to determine the incidence, symptom prevalence, severity, and outcomes of COVID-19 among children in Kuwait.
Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed confirmed pediatric cases diagnosed in Kuwait from January to December 2021. Data were sourced from [1] the Ministry of Health database for national incidence estimates, [2] digital records from ten COVID-19 centers across all governorates, and [3] hospital files from Farwaniya Hospital. Clinical presentation, comorbidities, severity, and outcomes were assessed. The incidence rate was calculated using Public Authority for Civil Information [PACI] population data.
Results: The estimated incidence of COVID-19 among children in 2021 was 4,391 cases per 100,000 children [4.39%]. Nearly half of confirmed cases were asymptomatic. Hospitalization was required for 3.2% of pediatric cases in Farwaniya governorate, with respiratory symptoms being most common. Comorbidities were present in 29.4% of hospitalized children, most commonly congenital anomalies.
Conclusion: Most pediatric COVID-19 cases in Kuwait were mild or asymptomatic, with low hospitalization rates. However, children with moderate or severe disease were more likely to have comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for continued surveillance and targeted public health strategies to protect vulnerable pediatric populations.

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