Children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19: epidemiological study in a municipality in the State of Mato Grosso

The manifestations of COVID-19 between children and adolescents and adults, although in this group, the incidence of severe cases is lower. The objective of this study was to analyze cases of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in children and adolescents in a municipality in southeastern Mato Grosso between 2020 and 2022. An epidemiological, cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, between March 2020 and March 2022. This study included hospitalized children and adolescents with COVID-19, who were distributed among the age groups 0--19 years. The data were collected from the Panel of COVID-19 Indicators of the State of Mato Grosso. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, type of hospitalization and outcomes. The descriptive statistical analysis was aided by the software R. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. During the study period, 133 reports of COVID-19 in children and adolescents were published. There was a prevalence of cases in August 2021 and February 2022 (18.79%), those in the 12--19 years (62%), mixed race (49%), male sex (51%), without comorbidities (73.68%), those hospitalized in wards (66.17%), those in the public network (52.63%), those who did not require mechanical ventilation (94%) and 86% who recovered. This study is expected to provide health managers, other health professionals and researchers with evidence for decision-making in this population for the prevention of disease.