Children and adolescents, unlike adults, rarely had long COVID symptoms that lasted longer than 12 weeks. According to a review done by the Children’s Research Institute, additional research is needed to investigate the risk and consequences of extended COVID in young people to help inform vaccine policy decisions (MCRI).
COVID has significant limits in children and adolescents, and some do not reveal a difference in symptoms between those infected with SARS-CoV-2 and those who are not.
COVID Symptoms In Children Rarely Last Longer Than 12 Weeks
The symptoms of Coronavirus, especially initial symptoms, are similar to flu, which is why people get confused. In the case of flu, also they get scared with an assumption of infection from Coronavirus, while in case of infection, they take it lightly, which makes the situation worst over a period.
Due to such confusion, the experts have revealed the symptoms among kids that can help parents stay alert if any of these infections.
According to a new MCRI COVID-19 research brief, the Delta strain does not cause more severe disease in children than prior versions after ten months in circulation. Most cases remained asymptomatic or moderate.
Obesity, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and immunological problems are linked to a 25-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 in children and adolescents.
According to a recent comprehensive study, severe COVID-19 affected 5.1 percent of children and adolescents with pre-existing diseases and 0.2 percent of those who did not.
While children with SARS-CoV-2 infection are frequently asymptomatic or have a moderate disease with low rates of hospitalization, the risk and features of protracted COVID are little recognized, according to MCRI Professor Nigel Curtis.
“Until now, studies lack a precise case definition and age-related data, have varying follow-up lengths, and rely on self- or parent-reported symptoms without lab validation.”
“Another key issue is that many studies have low response rates, implying that the danger of extended COVID may be overestimated.”
COVID- School closures, not seeing friends, and being unable to participate in sports and hobbies were among the 19 symptoms that were difficult to discern from those caused by the pandemic’s indirect impacts.
“This emphasizes the importance of having more stringent control groups in future research, such as children with different infections and those admitted to hospital or intensive care for other reasons.”
The MCRI-led analysis looked at 14 international studies with a total of 19,426 children and adolescents who had persistent symptoms after being exposed to COVID-19. Headache, weariness, sleep disturbance, concentration difficulties, and abdominal discomfort were the most prevalent symptoms reported four to twelve weeks following an acute infection.
It was reassuring to learn that symptoms rarely lasted more than 12 weeks, implying that extended COVID is less of a problem in children and adolescents than in adults.
Studies on COVID vaccinations for children and adolescents were urgently needed to assist policy decisions.
“Because acute disease poses such a minimal risk, one of the primary benefits of COVID vaccine for children and adolescents may be to prevent them from long-term COVID.”
“In the discussion over the hazards and benefits of immunization, a precise calculation of the risk of protracted COVID in this age range is particularly vital.”
The MCRI COVID-19 brief also revealed research gaps regarding the Delta variant’s significance in COVID-19 disease in children and adolescents.
Professor Andrew Steer, the co-chair of the MCRI COVID-19 Governance Group, warned that controlling community outbreaks was difficult without risk mitigation methods in place because the Delta variation was more transmissible.
“Following the identification of the highly transmissible Delta form and because adults have been prioritized for immunizations, more data is needed to describe the burden of COVID-19 in children and adolescents.”
