| Abstract | Ciljevi: Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio prikazati podatke o djeci, u dobi od 0-18 godina, koja su bila pozitivna na SARS-CoV-2 na PCR testu u Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji.
Materijali i metode: Istraživanje je provedeno retrospektivnom analizom baze podataka Hrvatskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo. Prikupljeni su podatci o broju SARS-CoV-2 pozitivnih osoba na području Splitsko-dalmatinske županije, od početka pandemije do 31. ožujka 2022. Za djecu, starosti od 0 do 18 godina, analizirani su podatci o dobi, spolu, općini i datumu rezultata PCR testa. Za potrebe utvrđivanja stopa prevalencije korišteni su podatci o ukupnom broju djece, broju djece prema dobnim skupinama i spolu iz popisa stanovništva Republike Hrvatske 2021. za Splitsko-dalmatinsku županiju.
Rezultati: Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je u tom razdoblju oboljelo ukupno 26.995 djece u dobi od 0-18 godina, što čini 18,43% ukupne SARS-CoV-2 pozitivne populacije Splitsko-dalmatinske županije. Većina njih (13.205, 48,92%) je bila pozitivna u petom valu. Učestalost SARS-CoV-2 pozitivne djece je, u većini valova pandemije, bila veća u zaobalju u odnosu na priobalje i otoke. Najveći broj pozitivne djece, u svim valovima COVID-19 pandemije, utvrđen je u dobnoj skupini 7-14 godina (13.942, 51,65%). Infekcija SARS-CoV-2 nije bila značajno češća ni u muške ni u ženske djece u ukupnoj COVID-19 pandemiji. Prema popisu stanovništva iz 2021., prevalencija SARS-CoV-2 pozitivne djece iznosila je 33,52%. Prevalencija u muške djece je bila 32,66%, a u ženske djece 34,42%, što nije značajno. Najniža prevalencija utvrđena je u dobnim skupinama 0-4 godine i 5-9 godina (16,51% odnosno 29,94%), dok je najviša u dobnim skupinama 10-14 godina i 15-19 godina (42,79% odnosno 42,54%).
Zaključak: Napredovanjem COVID-19 pandemije, učestalost SARS-CoV-2 pozitivne djece se povećava. Na važnost njihove uloge u tekućoj pandemiji, ukazuju i utvrđene visoke stope prevalencije u djece u Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji. Također, iako djeca imaju obično blažu kliničku sliku bolesti, ne smiju se zanemariti učinci i dugoročne posljedice COVID-19 pandemije na ove ranjive dobne skupine. |
| Abstract (english) | Objectives: The aim of this study was to present data on children, aged 0-18 years, who tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 on a PCR test in Split-Dalmatia Country.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted by retrospective analysis of the database of the Croatian Institute of Public Health. Data on the number of SARS-CoV-2 positive persons in the Split-Dalmatia County were collected from the beginning of the pandemic untill March 31 2022. For children, aged 0 to 18, data on age, sex, municipality and date of PCR test results were analyzed. Data on the total number of children, the number of children by age groups and sex from the 2021 census of the Republic of Croatia for the Split-Dalmatia County, were used to determine the prevalence rates.
Results: The results of the study showed that, during this time, the total number of positive children, aged 0-18, was 26.995, which is 18.43% of the total SARS-CoV-2 positive population. Most of them (13.205, 48.92%) tested positive in the fifth wave. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positive children was higher offshore than on the coast and islands, in most waves of the pandemic. When analyzing all waves, the highest number of positive tests was found among children aged 7-14 (13.942, 51.65%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significantly more common in both male and female children in the overall COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2021 census, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positive children in Split-Dalmatia County was 33.52%. The prevalence in male children was 32.66% and in female children 34.42%, which is not significant. The lowest prevalence was found in the age groups 0-4 years and 5-9 years (16.51% and 29.94%, respectively), while the highest in the age groups 10-14 years and 15-19 years (42.79% and 42.54%, respectively).
Conclusions: As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the number of SARS-CoV-2 positive children increases. The importance of their role in the current pandemic is indicated by the established high prevalence rates among children in the Split-Dalmatia County. Also, although children usually have a milder clinical picture of the disease, the effects and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on these vulnerable age groups should not be neglected. |
