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