Children who show at least four symptoms are most at risk of suffering from Long Covid, according to new research. The international study found the most common symptoms to be fatigue or weakness, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Researchers also found hospitalisations for 48 or more hours and being aged 14 or older are other aggravating factors. These findings could help identify vulnerable individuals who are more susceptible to Long Covid.
Lead author Professor Stephen Freedman of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, explained: "We found in some children, illness with Covid-19 is associated with reporting persistent symptoms after three months. Our results suggest appropriate guidance and follow-up are needed, especially for children at high risk for Long Covid."
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Long Covid is defined as signs and symptoms that develop during Covid-19, which last for more than three months and can't be explained by an alternative diagnosis.
Academics analysed data on 1,884 children with Covid in eight countries. They were tracked for 90 days between March 7, 2020 and January 20, 2021.
Long Covid was found in nearly 10 percent of hospital cases and five percent of children discharged from the Emergency Department (ED). Prof Freedman added: "The most common post-Covid 19 condition (PCC) symptoms among infected children were respiratory such as cough, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath and systemic like fatigue or weakness.
"Risk factors associated with PCCs included length of hospitalisation, higher number of symptoms at the first ED visit and older age. The most common PCCs were fatigue and weakness."
Children with Covid-19 usually have mild symptoms or none at all, with low hospitalisation rates. But the risk and features of long Covid are poorly understood. Co-lead author Prof Nathan Kuppermann, of the University of California, Davis, said: "Reported rates of Long Covid in adults are substantially higher than what we found in children.
"Our findings can inform public health policy decisions regarding Covid-19 mitigation strategies for children and screening approaches for long Covid among those with severe infections." The study in JAMA Network Open found nearly six per cent of children who presented to ED reported symptoms of Long Covid 90 days later.
Co-lead author Prof Todd Florin, of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, said: "Our finding that children who had multiple symptoms initially were at higher risk for Long Covid is consistent with studies in adults.
"Unfortunately, there are no known therapies for Long Covid in children and more research is needed in this area. However, if symptoms are significant, treatment targeting the symptoms is most important. Multidisciplinary care is warranted if symptoms are impacting quality of life."
Previous research has identified other common symptoms of long Covid in children as headache, sleep disturbance, concentration difficulties and abdominal pain. The eight countries in the new study were Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Italy, Paraguay, Singapore, Spain and the United States.
The condition has been found to occur in five percent of children with pre-existing health conditions compared to 0.2 per cent of peers.
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