Children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cilj istraživanja: Prikazati ukupan broj COVID-19 oboljele djece u dobi od 0–17 godina u Hrvatskoj i Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji, udio oboljele djece u ukupnom broju oboljelih te broj cijepljene djece u vrijeme pandemije. Ispitanici i metode: Istraživanje je provedeno za razdoblje od 25. veljače 2020. do 31. prosinca 2021. Korištene su metode deskriptivne statistike u analizi dostupnih podataka Hrvatskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo o oboljelim osobama od COVID-19, dokazanih PCR metodom. Prikazani su apsolutni brojevi oboljele djece od 0–17 godina, udjeli u ukupnom broju oboljelih, te stope incidencije COVID-19 u promatranim dobnim skupinama. Prikazan je ukupan broj cijepljene djece protiv COVID-19 mlađe od 15 godina. Rezultati: Od ukupnog broja 720.662 slučaja SARS-CoV-2 infekcije u Hrvatskoj, udio oboljele djece od 0–17 godina bio je 12,7 %. U Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji od ukupno 89.729 oboljelih, udio oboljele djece bio je 14,8 %. Najveći broj oboljele djece zabilježen je u zadnjem tromjesečju 2021. godine, a najviše stope obolijevanja u dobnim skupinama od 10–14 godina i 15–17 godina. Protiv COVID-19 u Hrvatskoj u dobi od 5 do 15 godina potpuno je cijepljeno 6.795, u Splitsko dalmatinskoj županiji 1.104 osoba. Zaključak: Djeca i mladi tijekom epidemije izloženi su brojnim zdravstvenim izazovima na koje treba odgovoriti odgovarajućom roditeljskom, zdravstvenom i socijalnom podrškom.Aim of the study: To show total COVID-19 cases reported in the age group 0–17 for Croatia and Split and Dalmatian County, the share of affected children in total number of patients as well as number of children vaccinated during the pandemic. Respondents and methods: The study was conducted for the period from February 25th 2020 to December 31st 2021. Based on the analysis of the available data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health on COVID-19 patients who tested positive to PCR, descriptive statistics methods were used. The absolute number of children with COVID-19 aged 0–17, the share in total number of patients, and the incidence rates of COVID-19 in the observed age groups were presented. The total number of children under age 15 having been vaccinated against COVID-19 was presented. Results: Out of 720.662 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported in Croatia, the proportion of the affected children (0–17 years) was 12.7%. In Split and Dalmatian County, out of total number of 89.729 infected individuals, the share of the affected children was 14.8 %. The highest number of the infected children was reported in the last quarter of 2021 and the highest infection rates in the age groups of 10–14 years and 15–17 years. In Croatia, there are 6.795 children aged 5 to 15 who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 1.104 in Split and Dalmatian County. Conclusion: During the epidemic, children and adolescents are exposed to a number of health challenges that need to be addressed with an appropriate parental, health and social support