Long-Covid is a research show that can affect children of all ages, including infants

CNN
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Larger studies have shown that even small children can experience a long Covid. This is the first of its kind, including infants.

A study published in the journal on Wednesday Lancet Child & Adolcent Health Includes 44,000 children from 0 to 14 years in Denmark. Of the children, 11,000 tested positive for Covid-19 between January 2020 and July 2021.

Symptoms associated with long Covid are common illnesses that children can experience without Covid, but children who previously tested positive for Covid, such as headaches, mood swings, stomach problems, and tiredness, have 2 You are more likely to experience at least one symptom for a month. Or more than a child who has never tested positive for Covid.

The study also found that one-third of children who tested positive for Covid experienced at least one long-term symptom that was not present before the test was positive.

The most common symptoms depend on age. For children up to 3 years old, it was mood swings, rashes and abdominal pain. Children aged 4 to 11 also experienced memory and concentration problems. At the age of 12-14, it was memory and concentration problems, mood swings, and fatigue.

Children under the age of 3 seemed to be the most problematic compared to children who were not diagnosed with Covid-19. Two months after a positive test, 40% experienced symptoms, compared to 27% in the group who did not have Covid.

“Our findings are consistent with previous studies of long Copenhagen and adolescents, especially when compared to controls, children are less likely to experience long Copenhagen, but it is recognized and treated seriously. “Must be done,” said study co-author Serena Kickenburg Berg, professor of cardiology at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is still unclear how many long children will have Covid and how long it will last, as there is not enough research in this age group. Some experts say.

2021 study It was suggested that more than half of children between the ages of 6 and 16 have at least one symptom that lasts for more than 4 months.

For adults, Some studies It will be about 30% of the case.

There are no specific tests for Long Covid. It is not clear which child has it, as it can happen even if the child has a mild case of Covid-19.

In addition to showing scientists the characteristics of children’s long covids, the study also showed that even children who did not acquire covids felt the effects of a pandemic. The group reported some psychological and social problems than the children who had Covid.

Dr. Michael Absood, a pediatrician who specializes in neurodevelopmental issues and is not working on research, told the UK Science Media Center that the facts were interesting.

“The most striking finding in this study is the high quality of life and low anxiety scores of older children who test positive for Covid-19, which allows them to go directly to Covid. It is further confirmed that the society is largely affected by the indirect effects of pandemics (school closures, repeated quarantine, reduced treatment) and anxiety-inducing media messaging, although they are tolerant of these effects. , Not a virus for all children, but may underestimate the long-term effects of the pandemic turmoil, and the urgent need to restore health and welfare services, “absoud said.

“Nevertheless, it is still important to identify a small percentage of children who take a long time to recover from COVID, while supporting all children who have persistent symptoms regardless of cause,” he added. ..

Dr. Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who manages a long Covid Clinic at Cleveland’s UH Rainbow Baby and Children’s Hospital, did not work on this study, but evidence that some children develop long Covid. Therefore, he said that this study is important.

She said she regularly encounters people who don’t yet believe that’s the case.

“There is debate in both the medical community and society about headaches, anxiety, stomach, pain and dizziness in all these children, whether this is a covid or a pandemic stress. Yes, pandemics have a negative impact on children. But if you put Covid on top of it, you can see that something is really happening here, “Edwards said.

Admitting long Covids can be problematic and may encourage more parents to vaccinate their children so that they do not get infected with long Covids in the first place. Studies such as this may also encourage parents to be aware of their symptoms, so they can get help from their children if they need it.

“It turns out that this isn’t an isolated phenomenon. It’s manifested in studies in multiple countries. It’s probably happening to more children than we originally thought,” Edwards said. I did. “Given how many Covid cases we had, we’re talking a lot about children, so it’s important to keep spreading the word.”