Can kids get ‘long COVID’ after coronavirus infections?


PTI, Sep 9, 2021, 10:53 AM IST

Washington DC: Can kids get “long COVID” after coronavirus infections? Yes, but studies indicate they’re less likely than adults to be affected by symptoms that persist, recur or begin a month or more after infection.

Estimates vary on how often the symptoms known as long COVID-19 occur in kids. A recently published UK study found about 4% of young children and teens had symptoms more than a month after getting infected. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of smell were among the most common complaints and most were gone by two months. Coughing, chest pain, and brain fog are among other long-term symptoms sometimes found in kids and can occur even after mild infections or no initial symptoms.

Some studies have found higher rates of persisting symptoms than in the U.K. study, but kids are thought to be less commonly affected than adults. About 30% of adult COVID-19 patients develop long-term symptoms, according to some estimates. Experts aren’t sure what causes the long-term symptoms. In some cases, it could reflect organ damage caused by the initial infection. Or it could be a result of the virus and inflammation lingering in the body.

Kids can develop other rare problems after an initial coronavirus infection, including heart inflammation or a condition known as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome. That involves fever and inflammation affecting different body parts, among other possible symptoms. Affected kids generally need to be hospitalized but most recover. A similar condition can occur in adults.

The rapid spread of the highly contagious delta variant has some doctors worrying about the potential for higher numbers of children being at risk for long COVID-19 and these other conditions. Because of the potential for long-term consequences, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends follow-up doctor visits after children recover from an initial coronavirus infection.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Maharashtra polls: BJP rebel withdraws nomination from Udgir in support of NCP candidate

No one should be displaced over Waqf land issue in Kerala’s Munambam, says CPI

Non-performance of batters is worrying, we will strive to do something special in Australia: Rohit

K-Rail can be implemented if technical issues in design addressed, says Centre

Naxalism will be wiped out from country by March 2026: Home Minister Amit Shah

How biscuits played an unconventional yet key role in anti-terror operation in Srinagar

Koderma stone industry to be revived with Rs 500 cr special package: Shah

Related Articles More

Attention problems could be ‘middleman’ between genetic risk for, experiencing psychosis: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Study finds loss of smell linked with inflammation in 140 conditions, could be early sign of disease

Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research hosts “Cell Therapy Conclave” at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Maharashtra polls: BJP rebel withdraws nomination from Udgir in support of NCP candidate

Tom Holland says he Googles partner Zendaya ‘to see if everything’s good’

No one should be displaced over Waqf land issue in Kerala’s Munambam, says CPI

India and China made ‘some progress’ in disengagement, says EAM S Jaishankar

Non-performance of batters is worrying, we will strive to do something special in Australia: Rohit

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.