Long COVID in children

ABSTRACT

Recently concerns have been raised regarding delayed and persistent clinical manifestations following acute COVID infection. The term "Long COVID” refers to a syndrome with multisystem manifestations, persisting beyond 3months of the onset of acute COVID when other likely causes are excluded. Recently, the World Health Organization proposed a definition for adults that included persistent or fluctuating symptoms, impacting daily life, for at least 2months, following acute COVID, that could not be explained by other diagnoses. The condition is better understood among adults, but similar presentations have also been reported in children less frequently. These include fatigue, muscular weakness, shortness of breath, sleeping difficulty, depression, and anxiety. However, there are insufficient epidemiologic studies on Long COVID in children, and the limited data have various methodological limitations. There is no confirmatory diagnostic test and no specific pharmacological treatment for Long COVID. Therefore, individualized symptomatic treatment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation should be attempted. Severe physical or psychiatric manifestations require an urgent referral and appropriate management. Vaccination for the prevention of COVID, as per the local guidelines, is suggested. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.