Study observes symptoms of COVID-19 in children months after infection

A study of the symptoms of COVID-19 in newborns and children up to 14 years of age confirms that children who have been diagnosed with the disease can experience prolonged symptoms that last at least two months, reports “The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health”.

The analysis used a nationwide sample of children in Denmark and compared the positive cases of COVID-19 with a control group of children with no history of novel coronavirus infection.

“The overall goal of our study was to determine the prevalence of long-lasting symptoms in children and infants, along with quality of life and absenteeism from school or day care”said Selina Kikkenborg Berg of Copenhagen University Hospital.

“Our results reveal that although children with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 are more likely to experience long-lasting symptoms than children without a previous diagnosis of COVID-19, the pandemic has affected all aspects of young people’s lives. It will be important to continue researching the long-term consequences of the pandemic on all children.”he added.

Most previous studies of prolonged COVID-19 in young people have focused on adolescents.

In this research, surveys were sent to parents or guardians of newborns and children up to the age of 14 who had tested positive for COVID-19 between January 2020 and July 2021. In total, responses were received from almost 11,000 COVID-19 positive children. and comparisons were made with more than 33,000 minors who had never tested positive.

The surveys asked participants about the 23 most common symptoms of prolonged COVID-19 in children.

The most common symptoms among newborns to 3 years of age were mood swings, skin rashes, and stomachaches, while among those 4 to 11 years of age, the prevalent symptoms were mood swings, difficulty remembering or concentrating, and rashes.

For children between the ages of 12 and 14, the symptoms were fatigue, mood swings and trouble concentrating, the study adds.

The research results found that children diagnosed with COVID-19 in all age groups were more likely to experience at least one symptom for two months than the control group.

“Although the chances of children experiencing prolonged covid are low, especially compared to control groups, they need to be recognized and treated seriously. Further research will be beneficial to better treat and understand these symptoms.”according to the expert.