As schools in many regions fail to implement precautions against seasonal COVID-19, more children are experiencing multiple rounds of infection and increasing the odds they will develop Long COVID. A new research study has identified the most common symptoms of Long COVID in Kids.
A United States coalition of pediatricians, epidemiologists and advocates teamed up to perform the RECOVER-Pediatrics symptom survey.1 This research project followed over 5,000 kids to identify the tell-tale signs of long COVID-19 in kids aged 6-17 years old. They gathered information about past COVID-19 infections and also followed children over time to see how their symptoms developed.
A growing threat
Epidemiological evidence shows that every time you get reinfected it increases the chances you will go on to develop long COVID-19, also known as, postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Surveys of adult experience point to long COVID-19 as a serious long-term threat to a person’s health, with many saying they developed disabling symptoms.1
With the number of people living with PASC set to increase, researchers are now investigating how symptoms manifest in different populations.
As we all know, kids aren’t just mini adults. Their developing bodies can experience symptoms in different ways; it’s often difficult for them to describe what’s happening to them. So just how do we identify symptoms of Long COVID in Kids?
The lingering effects of COVID-19 in children
The study revealed that long COVID-19 is a significant concern for children, with a large proportion experiencing symptoms lasting more than four weeks after infection. Nearly half of school-age children and 39% of adolescents reported prolonged symptoms, highlighting the widespread impact of the condition.
Even more concerning, some children who were thought to be uninfected were later found to have antibodies against the COVID-19 virus, indicating past asymptomatic infections. Some of these children also experienced long-term effects, emphasizing that even “silent” COVID-19 cases can have lasting consequences.
Long COVID-19 manifests in different ways, with researchers identifying distinct flavors of symptoms. School-age children tended to experience symptoms in four main groups: a multisystem group affecting various organs, a headache-dominant group, a neuropsychological/sleep group impacting cognitive function and sleep, and a gastrointestinal group.
Long COVID symptoms in kids
They found that school-aged children experiencing long COVID-19 (PASC) most frequently reported headaches (57%). Difficulties with memory, focus, and sleep, along with stomach pain, were also common, affecting 44% and 43% of the children respectively. Other frequent symptoms were body/muscle/joint pain (51%), tiredness/low energy (49%), and anxiety (47%). Adolescents, on the other hand, presented with three main groups: a multisystem group, a fatigue/pain group, and a sensory group characterized by loss of smell or taste.
This study revealed that adolescents with long COVID-19 most commonly experienced tiredness and low energy (80%), body/muscle/joint pain (60%), and headaches (55%). Difficulties with memory and focus were also prevalent, affecting 47% of these teens. Sleep problems, anxiety, and feelings of sadness or depression were reported by a significant proportion of adolescents with long COVID-19 (47%, 47%, and 38% respectively).
The study also found a strong link between the severity of long COVID-19 and a child’s overall well-being. Kids with more severe long COVID-19 symptoms, as measured by a specialized index, reported poorer overall health, physical health, and quality of life. This underscores the significant impact long COVID-19 can have on a child’s daily life and emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and appropriate support.
Long COVID in children is a widespread and serious issue, affecting a substantial portion of those infected with COVID-19. The diverse range of symptoms and their potential to significantly impact a child’s well-being highlight the urgent need for increased awareness, further research, and effective interventions to support affected children and their families.
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