AUTHOR=Garazzino Silvia, Lo Vecchio Andrea, Pierantoni Luca, Calò Carducci Francesca Ippolita, Marchetti Federico, Meini Antonella, Castagnola Elio, Vergine Gianluca, Donà Daniele, Bosis Samantha, Dodi Icilio, Venturini Elisabetta, Felici Enrico, Giacchero Roberta, Denina Marco, Pierri Luca, Nicolini Giangiacomo, Montagnani Carlotta, Krzysztofiak Andrzej, Bianchini Sonia, Marabotto Caterina, Tovo Pier-Angelo, Pruccoli Giulia, Lanari Marcello, Villani Alberto, Castelli Gattinara Guido, The Italian SITIP-SIP Pediatric Infection Study Group, Caldarelli Valeria, Salvini Filippo Maria, Corsello Giovanni, Del Barba Paolo, Berlese Paola, Agostoni Carlo, Ghizzi Chiara, Quadri Vera, Riscassi Sara, Rabbone Ivana, Calitri Carmelina, Abbagnato Luisa, Parola Luciana, Banderali Giuseppe, Pacati Ilaria, Cherubini Simonetta, Lippi Paola, Guala Andrea, Agostiniani Rino, Cazzato Salvatore, Kantar Ahmad, Baroero Luca, Rossi Nadia, Dalmazzo Cristina, Panigati Laura, Manzoni Paolo, Vigo Alessandro, Fiore Ludovica, Comberiati Pasquale, Battezzati Gianna, Verna Paola, Tornese Gianluca, Gianino Paola, Bertacca Luca, Vaccaro Angelina, Zavarise Giorgio, Marchione Luigi, Gallia Paola, Di Filippo Paola, Centenari Chiara, Iacono Alessandra, Plebani Alessandro, Ferretti Marta, Rizzi Sara, Rossin Sara, Marchisio Paola, De Fanti Alessandro, De Giacomo Costantino, Ferrante Giuliana, Barera Graziano, Roberta Pajno, Martelossi Stefano, Rocchi Alessia, Francavilla Rosa, Sogno Valin Paola, Poeta Marco, Valentini Piero, Papa Raffaele, Magistà Anna Maria, Badolato Raffaele, Saffioti Carolina, Greco Maria Cristina, Costenaro Paola, Di Pietro Maria, Esposito Susanna, Pieri Giovanni, Spartà Maria Valentina, Maffini Valentina, Cursi Laura, Nunziata Francesco, Mignone Federica, Bondone Claudia, Stera Giacomo, Marolda Agostina, Fiorica Lorenzo, Sabatini Caterina, Genovese Maria Rita, Ferrari Cristina, Galli Luisa TITLE=Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results From an Italian Multicenter Study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.649358 DOI=10.3389/fped.2021.649358 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=Background: Many aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents remain unclear and optimal treatment is debated. The objective of our study was to investigate epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on risk factors for complicated and critical disease.Methods: The present multicenter Italian study was promoted by the Italian Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, involving both pediatric hospitals and general pediatricians/family doctors. All subjects under 18 years of age with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection and referred to the coordinating center were enrolled from March 2020.Results: As of 15 September 2020, 759 children were enrolled (median age 7.2 years, IQR 1.4; 12.4). Among the 688 symptomatic children, fever was the most common symptom (81.9%). Barely 47% of children were hospitalized for COVID-19. Age was inversely related to hospital admission (p < 0.01) and linearly to length of stay (p = 0.014). One hundred forty-nine children (19.6%) developed complications. Comorbidities were risk factors for complications (p < 0.001). Viral coinfections, underlying clinical conditions, age 5–9 years and lymphopenia were statistically related to ICU admission (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Complications of COVID-19 in children are related to comorbidities and increase with age. Viral co-infections are additional risk factors for disease progression and multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily related to COVID-19 (MIS-C) for ICU admission.