COVID-19 in Hospitalised Norwegian Children - Risk Factors, Outcomes and Immunology

This nation-wide, prospective cohort study of COVID-19 infection addresses three main
issues: 1) Epidemiological risk factors; 2) Natural history (including immunological
mechanisms and long term effects) and 3) Support of infection prevention. Also, the study
focuses solely on children.

Children (0-18 years of age) admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19 are eligible
(Fig. 1). Those with confirmed COVID-19 serve as cases, whereas those with non-COVID-19
serve as controls; both groups will be followed prospectively for 6 months. Three
objectives/Work Packages (WPs) are defined:

- In WP1, the investigators will investigate risk factors for severe outcome of the
acute infection; potential risk factors include sex, age, comorbidities, initial
clinical findings, infectious load, and genetic markers.

- In WP2, the investigators will investigate the immunological response to acute
infection, focusing on initial innate host response and its associations to
inflammatory enhancement, genetic factors and clinical course.

- In WP3, the investigators will investigate the prevalence and risk factors of
long-lasting complication, in particular the development of post-infectious chronic
fatigue