Clinical Characteristics, Activity Levels and Mental Health Problems in Children with Long COVID: A Survey of 510 Children
This week has seen the release of the LongCovidKids survey 2, which has been written up as a pre-print in conjunction with Dr Danilo Buonsenso and Dr Ferran Espuny Pujol, & Daniel Munblit with a view to future publication. The study looked at the clusters and dynamics of the symptoms that children were experiencing, as well as prevalence. It also considered the impact on the physical and mental health of the children and the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Summary;
The study included 512 children infected between January 2020 and January 2021. At their initial COVID-19 infection, only 22 children were hospitalized. Overall, children had persisting COVID-19 for an average of 8.2 months.
Most frequent symptoms were: Tiredness and weakness (444 patients, 87.1% of sample), Fatigue (410, 80.4%), Headache (401, 78.6%), Abdominal pain (387, 75.9%), Muscle and joint pain (309,60.6%), Post-exertional malaise (274, 53.7%), rash (267, 52.4%). 484 (94.9%) children had had at least four symptoms. 129 (25.3%) children have suffered constant COVID-19 infection symptoms, 252 (49.4%) have had periods of apparent recovery and then
symptoms returning, and 97 (19.0%) had a prolonged period of wellness followed by symptoms.
Only 51 (10.0%) children have returned to previous levels of physical activity.
Parents reported a significant prevalence of Neuropsychiatric symptoms. Several parents reported
Lack of concentration (309 children, 60.6% of sample), Difficulty remembering information (234,45.9%), Difficulty in doing everyday tasks (204, 40%), Difficulty processing information (167, 32.7%),and Short term memory issues (167, 32.7%).
The data that was provided by the families of the children with Long Covid in the group is extremely important in light of the scarcity of current data; although the findings support the previous research that has been done in Italy and Sweden, it reinforces the great need for further research in this area. Click the image to read the full paper.
