Abstract:
Introduction: In the assessment of bronchopulmonary complications from the COVID-19 infection,
the imaging methods are of choice, and the gold standard is HRCT (high-resolution computed
tomography).
Aim: assessment of the volume, location and type of bronchopulmonary damage by imaging
techniques (HRCT) in children at the evolutionary stages of the COVID-19 infection.
Material and methods: The research is a descriptive study of 88 children, aged 0-17 years, admitted
to the Pneumology Clinic, between March 2021 and December 2022. All children were examined by
chest CT.
Results: According to the imaging data, 60 children (68.2%:95%CI 58.54-76.51) had pulmonary
pathological changes, and 28 children (31.8%:95%CI 23.49-41 ,46) a normal lung appearance was
confirmed. The highest proportion according to age was infants, with CT changes in 45,3%:95%CI
35.9-52.96. The fibrotic pattern of different degrees, was found in 35% of children. Areas of lung tissue
consolidation had an impressive prevalence of 71%. The "ground glass" type changes suggestive of
lung damage in COVID-19 infection were present in 9 children. Solitary, as well as multiple air bubbles
up to 1cm in size were in 7.54% of cases.
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Conclusions: The COVID-19 infection is not only an acute infection, but is a complex entity with
post-infection complications and long-lasting effects, especially pulmonary ones. Children are
predisposed to develop lung changes post COVID-19 with a higher proportion of infants. Pulmonary
fibrotic changes were attested in 35%.
