Persistent symptoms in Swedish children after hospitalisation due to COVID‐19

Sterky, Ellinor; Olsson‐Åkefeldt, Selma; Hertting, Olof; Herlenius, Eric; Alfvén, Tobias; Rinder, Malin Ryd; Rhedin, Samuel; Hildenwall, Helena

doi:10.1111/apa.15999

Cited by 61 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In contrast, a cross-sectional observational study from the Netherlands presented alarming data showing that up to 87% of pediatric COVID-19 survivors experienced persistent fatigue (28). Similar data has been reported from Sweden, showing fatigue as the most common symptom in hospitalized children, with a median follow-up time of 219 days (29). Among the adult population, a similar tendency has been observed, with 63% of hospitalized patients reporting persistent fatigue 6 months after acute COVID-19 (30).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Many of the reported long-COVID symptoms are non-specific, thus making it difficult to distinguish long COVID from pandemic-associated symptoms caused by lockdown measures (i.e., restricted socializing, school closures), which have been shown to have negative effects on the well-being and mental health of children and adolescents (16,32,39). In order to prove the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptom persistence in children, it is crucial to carry out research with matched control groups and validated research tools, including objective functional testing and imaging, since self-reported symptoms may be difficult to validate (14,16,29).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of Persistent Symptoms After COVID-19 and Other Non-SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children

et al. 2021

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Introduction: The data on long COVID in children is scarce since children and adolescents are typically less severely affected by acute COVID-19. This study aimed to identify the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, and to compare the persistent symptom spectrum between COVID-19 and community-acquired infections of other etiologies.Methods: This was an ambidirectional cohort study conducted at the Children's Clinical University Hospital in Latvia. The study population of pediatric COVID-19 patients and children with other non-SARS-CoV-2-community-acquired infections were invited to participate between July 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021.Results: In total, 236 pediatric COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Additionally, 142 comparison group patients were also enrolled. Median follow-up time from acute symptom onset was 73.5 days (IQR; 43–110 days) in the COVID-19 patient group and 69 days (IQR, 58–84 days) in the comparison group. Most pediatric COVID-19 survivors (70%, N = 152) reported at least one persistent symptom, but more than half of the patients (53%, N = 117) noted two or more long-lasting symptoms. The most commonly reported complaints among COVID-19 patients included persistent fatigue (25.2%), cognitive sequelae, such as irritability (24.3%), and mood changes (23.3%), as well as headaches (16.9%), rhinorrhea (16.1%), coughing (14.4%), and anosmia/dysgeusia (12.3%). In addition, 105 (44.5%) COVID patients had persistent symptoms after the 12-week cut-off point, with irritability (27.6%, N = 29), mood changes (26.7%, N = 28), and fatigue (19.2%, N = 20) being the most commonly reported ones. Differences in symptom spectrum among the various age groups were seen. Logistic regression analysis showed that long-term persistent symptoms as fever, fatigue, rhinorrhea, loss of taste and/or smell, headaches, cognitive sequelae, and nocturnal sweating were significantly associated with the COVID-19 experience when compared with the controls.Conclusions: We found that at the time of interview almost three-quarters of children reported at least one persistent symptom, but the majority of patients (53%) had two or more concurrent symptoms. The comparison group's inclusion in the study allowed us to identify that symptom persistence is more apparent with COVID-19 than any other non-SARS-CoV-2 infection. More research is needed to distinguish the symptoms of long COVID from pandemic-associated complaints. Each persistent symptom is important in terms of child well-being during COVID-19 recovery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Persistent Symptoms After COVID-19 and Other Non-SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children

et al. 2021

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“… 40 Furthermore, one study found an association between longer hospitalization and more severe persistent symptoms, and between PIMS-TS and a higher prevalence of persistent symptoms. 38 …”

Section: Results Of Studies Of Long Covid In Children and Adolescentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Common is Long COVID in Children and Adolescents?

Zimmermann

Pittet

Curtis

2021

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

238

247

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“… 10 About the paediatric age, at least 10% of children who test positive for the virus still have persistent symptoms that deserve to be properly assessed. 11 …”

Section: Who Develops Long Covid?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Long COVID: long-term effects?

Toro

Bozzani

Tavazzi

et al. 2021

European Heart Journal Supplements

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The term Long COVID (or Post COVID) describes a condition characterized by persistence of symptoms for at least 12 weeks after the onset of COVID-19. It may last several months but the duration is still matter of observation. The symptoms and the clinical manifestations are clinically heterogeneous and suggesting involvement of multi-organs/systems, including the cardiovascular system. The general recurrent symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, myalgia, headache, loss of memory, and impaired concentration. Patients report loss of their previous psychophysical performance. Cardiovascular involvement manifests with common symptoms such as palpitations and chest pain, and, less commonly, with events such as late arterial and venous thromboembolisms, heart failure episodes, strokes or transient ischaemic attack, ‘myo-pericarditis’. The diagnostic criteria are mainly based on the narrative of the patients. Measurable biomarkers or instrumental findings or clinical events are not yet framed in a shared diagnostic framework. The open question for clinicians and researchers is whether biomarkers, electrocardiogram, non-invasive imaging, and clinical monitoring should be included in a shared diagnostic protocol aimed at defining the diagnostic path and protecting patients at risk of unexpected events.

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Persistent symptoms in Swedish children after hospitalisation due to COVID‐19

Cited by 61 publications

References 7 publications

Comparison of Persistent Symptoms After COVID-19 and Other Non-SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children

Comparison of Persistent Symptoms After COVID-19 and Other Non-SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children

How Common is Long COVID in Children and Adolescents?

Long COVID: long-term effects?

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