Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Pediatric COVID-19 Cases: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study at the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad

Mankhi, Oras Abd Alrahman; GHALI, HASSANIEN HABEEB

doi:10.52573/ipmj.2026.165495

	Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Pediatric COVID-19 Cases: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study at the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad
Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal
Volume 25, Issue 3, July 2026, Pages 289-299 PDF (888.48 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.52573/ipmj.2026.165495
Authors
Oras Abd Alrahman Mankhi^* ¹; HASSANIEN HABEEB GHALI²
¹Emergency medicine
²Scientific Council of Pediatrics, Iraqi Board for Medical Specialisations
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to pose a global health challenge. Although children are generally less severely affected than adults, severe outcomes and mortality continue to be reported, particularly in low-resource settings. paediatric cases may present with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical and laboratory characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 in Iraq is essential for improving diagnosis, management, and outcomes. Objective: To describe the demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital (CWTH), Baghdad, and to identify factors associated with disease severity. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 230 children aged 1 month to 14 years with RT-PCR–confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, between March 2020 and June 2021. Data were extracted from hospital records. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 7.1 ± 3.8 years, and 56.1% were males. Fever (84%), cough (68%), and shortness of breath (42%) were the most common symptoms. Laboratory abnormalities included lymphopenia (31%), elevated CRP (72%), and abnormal chest X-ray findings (48%). Most children had mild to moderate disease (88%), while 12% developed severe or critical illness requiring oxygen therapy. Overall mortality was 3.5% (n = 8) (95% CI: 1.5–6.8). Severe disease was significantly associated with lymphopenia (p=0.02), elevated CRP (p=0.01), and abnormal radiological findings (p=0.03). Conclusion: Pediatric COVID-19 in Iraq generally presents with mild to moderate clinical manifestations; however, a subset of patients develops severe disease. Early recognition, continuous monitoring of laboratory markers, and prompt supportive care are essential. Radiological assessment aids in identifying high-risk patients.
Keywords
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; Pediatrics; Children; Iraq Clinical characteristics

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