Diagnostic challenges of long COVID in children: a survey of pediatric health care providers’ preferences and practices

Abstract

IntroductionGiven the challenges in diagnosing children with long COVID, we sought to explore diagnostic practices and preferences among clinicians.MethodsA ten-question survey assessed pediatric providers’ clinical decision making for identifying and evaluating long COVID in children. Of the 120 survey respondents, 84 (70%) were physicians, 31 (26%) nurse practitioners, and 5 (4%) physician assistants.ResultsThe most common categories of symptoms identified as raising suspicion for long COVID in children included cardiopulmonary symptoms, selected by 119 (99%) of pediatric providers, and neurocognitive symptoms, selected by 118 (98%) of providers. However, there was more ambiguity on the primary feature of long COVID, with providers selecting a range of key symptoms. Of all physical exam findings, postural orthostatic tachycardia, was most suggestive of long COVID [identified by 49 (41%) of pediatric providers], whereas one-third of providers reported no specific identifiable exam finding.DiscussionPediatric providers report variable decision making in the clinical evaluation of long COVID, with patient demographics and clinical factors impacting whether a diagnosis of long COVID is considered. This variation in diagnosing pediatric long COVID reflects ambiguity in the definition of long COVID in children and the absence of clinical guidelines to support providers in the identification of disease and treatment. This study highlights an area of need for future clinical advances in pediatric long COVID.