Long COVID symptoms can occur in children up to age 14

The largest study to date of long COVID symptoms in children aged 0-14 years confirms that children who have received a COVID-19 diagnosis can experience symptoms of long COVID lasting at least two months. The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, used national level sampling of children and matched COVID-19 positive cases with a control group of children with no prior history of a COVID-19 infection.

In total, responses from almost 11,000 children with a positive COVID-19 test result who were matched by age and sex to over 33,000 children who had never tested positive for COVID-19.The surveys asked participants about the 23 most common symptoms of long COVID in children (identified by the Long COVID Kids Rapid Survey January 2021) and used the World Health Organization definition of long COVID as symptoms lasting more than two months.

The most commonly reported symptoms among children 0-3 years old were mood swings, rashes, and stomach aches. Among 4-11 years old the most commonly reported symptoms were mood swings, trouble remembering or concentrating, and rashes, and among 12-14 years old, fatigue, mood swings, and trouble remembering or concentrating.

The results of the study found children diagnosed with COVID-19 in all age groups were more likely to experience at least one symptom for two months or longer than the control group. In the 0-3 years age group 40% of children diagnosed with COVID-19 experienced symptoms for longer than two months.

While , for the 4-11 years age group the ratio was 38% of cases compared to 34% of controls and for the 12-14 years age group, 46% of cases compared to 41% of controls experienced long-lasting symptoms.

Hence ,the authors stated that although the chances of children experiencing long COVID is low, , it must be recognised and treated seriously.

Reference: Prof Selina Kikkenborg Berg, PhD, Pernille Palm, PhD, Ulrikka Nygaard, PhD,Prof Henning Bundgaard, DMSc, Maria Nivi Schmidt Petersen, MSc, Siri Rosenkilde, MSc et al. Published:June 22, 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00154-7.