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The research is focused on the evaluation of a general blood test in children with a new coronavirus infection, depending on the severity of the disease. 107 patients with virus-identified new coronavirus infection aged 7–14 years were examined. 19 (17.8%) were diagnosed with asymptomatic, 69 (64.4%) mild, and 19 (17.8%) moderate COVID-19. The control group is represented by 75 healthy children. The hemogram indicators in each group were analyzed, a correlation analysis of the red and white blood cell counts with the severity of the disease was carried out. In children with a new coronavirus infection, a significant decrease in the blood hemoglobin relative to the control group was revealed, although not exceeding the normal values. An inverse correlation was established between a decrease in the WBC and absolute lymphocytes count and the severity of clinical manifestations of the disease.

As for adults, the prognostic predictive factors have been established, including some cytokines, associated with the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and severity of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, predictors for the severity of the course of coronavirus infection in children are not well understood. In addition, there is no information on the cytokine profile in preschool children with COVID-19 as yet. The purpose of the research was to create a predictive model based on a comprehensive analysis of cytokine levels, which would then allow predicting the severity of the course of coronavirus infection in preschool children. Materials and methods used: 21 children (47.6% (10/21) boys and 52.4% (11/21) girls) aged 4.0 [3.0; 4.0] y/o with confirmed coronavirus infection (main group) vs. 25 children (44% (11/25) boys and 56% (14/25) girls) of health group I aged 3.0 [2.9; 3.7] y/o (the control group). Depending on the severity of COVID-19, patients of the main group were divided into subgroups: SG1 of 7 children with asymptomatic COVID-19; SG2 of 7 patients with a mild form; and SG3 of 7 cases of moderate form of the disease. In all children, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs was detected by PCR. The concentration of cytokines in blood serum was assessed by the flow fluorometry. Results: in children with COVID-19 at the time of admission to the hospital, the serum concentration of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, IFN-γ, and TGF-β1 was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). Thus, based on a comprehensive analysis of the levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IP-10, and TGF-β1 at the time of admission to the hospital, the prognostic model was developed allowing predicting the severity of COVID-19 in preschool children (Se=1.0 [95% CI 0.99-1.00], Sp=0.98 [95% CI 0.96-0.99], ROC-AUC=1.0 [95% CI 0.99-1.00], p<0.001; R2=0.93). Conclusion: the results of a comprehensive analysis allow us to consider the indicators of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IP-10, and TGF-β1 as predictors for coronavirus infection severity in preschool children.

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