A 24-month study reveals that 7.2% of children consistently experience long-COVID symptoms, with tiredness, sleep issues, and headaches most commonly reported, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Dec 5 2024 New findings show long-COVID affects a significant proportion of children and teens, with symptoms lingering for years and demanding better care strategies.
The Long COVID in Children and Young People study has been designed to explore long-COVID symptoms in children and adolescents aged under 18 years. The study has reported findings on long-COVID in 20,202 children and adolescents living in England up to 12 months after their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The participants were categorized into four groups according to their infection status over the period of 24 months. The first group included participants who never tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The second group included those who were initially test-negative but subsequently tested positive. The third group included those who were initially test-positive but did not have reinfection later on.
The study groups also observed a variation in the total number of reported symptoms. While 35% of participants who initially tested positive and subsequently developed reinfection reported no symptoms, 46% of participants who never tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 reported the same experience. However, even among the never-positive group, 14% experienced five or more symptoms, highlighting the non-specific nature of many symptoms reported.
Considering the demographic characteristics of participants, the study found that long-COVID is more common among older participants, female participants, as well as socioeconomically deprived participants. Study Significance Mental health impact: Participants meeting the long-COVID Delphi definition showed significantly worse scores on validated mental health scales, including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Chalder Fatigue Scale, indicating higher emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Abdominal Pain Adolescents Coronavirus Medicine Mental Health Muscle Pain Research Respiratory SARS SARS-Cov-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Syndrome Tiredness
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Miners campaigner hails ‘end of long, long fight’ over injusticeMick Newton, worked at Thoresby Colliery for 15 years and has been campaigning for a fairer deal for the past decade
Read more »
Link between COVID-19 and long-term risk of autoimmune and autoinflammatory connective tissue disordersCOVID-19 survivors may develop autoimmune conditions long-term, with risks varying by severity and vaccination status, necessitating continued health vigilance.
Read more »
Long Covid could be costing the UK economy billions each yearWorking days lost to long Covid could be costing the economy billions of pounds every year as patients struggle to cope with symptoms and return to work, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
Read more »
Long-Term Sickness-Related Worklessness Rises Sharply Since CovidLong-term sickness-related worklessness has sharply increased in parts of the UK since the start of the Covid pandemic, with some areas seeing a seven-fold rise. The figures raise concerns about the future welfare bill, prompting the government to consider sweeping changes to tackle the issue. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to announce new legislation aimed at addressing the rising trend.
Read more »
Lower pulmonary gas exchange may be linked to impaired cognitive function in long COVID patientsIn patients with long COVID, lower pulmonary gas exchange may be associated with impaired cognitive function, according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Read more »
Exposure to air pollutants raises risk of persistent long-COVID symptomsExposure to air pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) is associated with an increased risk of persistent long-COVID symptoms, partly due to its impact on the severity of the acute infection.
Read more »