‘Long COVID’: Symptom persistence in children hospitalised for COVID‐19

Aim We aimed to describe the long‐term outcome with respect to symptom persistence amongst children hospitalised for COVID‐19. Methods This was a follow‐up study of 58 children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID‐19. For all patients, the data were collected in a phone call to the family in Dece...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of paediatrics and child health 2022-10, Vol.58 (10), p.1836-1840
Main Authors: Asadi‐Pooya, Ali A, Nemati, Meshkat, Nemati, Hamid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age groups
Child
Childrens health
chronic
Chronic illnesses
coronavirus
COVID-19
COVID-19 - complications
Fatigue - etiology
Follow-Up Studies
Hospitalization
Humans
Long COVID
Original
paediatrics
Pediatrics
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Recovery (Medical)
SARS-CoV-2
Teenagers
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Summary:Aim We aimed to describe the long‐term outcome with respect to symptom persistence amongst children hospitalised for COVID‐19. Methods This was a follow‐up study of 58 children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID‐19. For all patients, the data were collected in a phone call to the family in December 2021 (9 months after the initial study and more than 13 months after their admission to hospital). We inquired about their current health status and obtained information, if the responding parent consented orally to participate and answer the questions. Results Fifty‐one children and adolescents were studied. Only five patients (10%) had persistent symptoms compatible with long‐COVID; the reported symptoms include fatigue in four (8%), weakness in three (6%), exercise intolerance in two (4%) and shortness of breath in two (4%) patients. Four patients (7.8%), who did not have any symptoms of long‐COVID in phase 1 of the study, reported new‐onset symptoms or complaints that are potentially compatible with the diagnosis of long‐COVID (weakness, myalgia, excess sputum, cough, fatigue) in the current phase. Conclusions Symptom persistence of long‐COVID is infrequent amongst children hospitalised for COVID‐19. Most of the symptoms of long‐COVID will resolve with the passage of time and the residual symptoms are often mild and tolerable. The scientific community should carefully and clearly define long‐COVID and its natural course in order to facilitate and harmonise future studies.
ISSN:1034-4810
1440-1754
1440-1754
DOI:10.1111/jpc.16120