The COVID-19 Delta version has altered the restrictions concerning children. As a result of the virus being substantially more contagious than the original COVID, pediatric hospitals are overrun with sick children. In the meantime, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that even kids with minor illnesses might not make it through COVID uninjured. The extended COVID syndrome, previously thought to be a problem predominantly in adults, seems to be developing in children. Long COVID-19 has drawn much attention from adults, but many parents are unaware that this illness can also impact children.
Parents should be aware of the following information regarding the long-term effects of COVID, including its causes and symptoms.
What precisely is Long COVID?
Long COVID symptoms are any symptoms a person experiences after getting over COVID-19. It’s one of the biggest problems the healthcare sector is now dealing with. Researchers and medical professionals are still baffled as to why some patients get more serious ailments like heart problems or endure exhaustion or shortness of breath for weeks or months after taking COVID-19.
Most COVID-19 patients, including adults and children, fully recover in three to four weeks. Sometimes patients experience additional symptoms even after their negative long covid test. This is referred to as post-COVID conditions or extended COVID.
Since COVID is a relatively new condition, few medical practitioners are familiar with it. In addition, they are working hard to determine why some children with COVID-19 heal quickly and others go on to develop protracted COVID, which can last for months or more.
One theory holds that prolonged COVID sets off an auto-immune response, sending the body into overdrive and attacking itself. Another is that the virus is still present in the body.
Long COVID is different from the rare inflammatory sickness called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which some kids have two to six weeks after contracting COVID-19.
Why do children have long COVIDs?
It is unclear why some kids have extended COVID and others have not. According to the study, 6% of children with COVID-19 who went to the ER also experienced prolonged COVID symptoms three months later. Patients who met one of the criteria for a protracted COVID were more likely to have four or more symptoms, an inpatient stay of at least 48 hours, or both.
Being female, 14, having severe COVID-19, being overweight or obese, and having allergies can be the reasons for having the long COVID.
Infants and young children are not immune to COVID, even though data suggests that teens are more likely than younger kids to have persistent COVID. They may be exhibiting prolonged COVID symptoms, which they can’t express.
Four percent of children under 14 begin to experience prolonged COVID symptoms a year after their initial infection. Children are also more likely to develop long COVID after a second infection.
How long does long COVID remain effective in kids?
Although children usually recover far more quickly than adults, they may endure symptoms for up to six months after they first experience them. The length of recovery time for children is typically determined by the severity of the initial illnesses and their overall health. Children usually recover fully in a few months.
How prominent is long COVID in kids?
The fundamental issue is the illness’s lack of a detailed description or even a popular name. It has been referred to as long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19, and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), the last of which is a research acronym. If you consider every child admitted to the hospital for MIS-C, the prevalence will be higher.
Since so few children with extended COVID seek medical attention, tracking its incidence is challenging. Furthermore, it is more difficult because young kids frequently struggle to communicate their emotions vocally. For instance, it can be difficult for parents to identify signs of fatigue in young children because the condition may manifest as hyperactivity rather than sluggishness.
What red flags should parents be on the lookout for?
Numerous parents will find that their kids are requesting to stop participating in sports or academics due to prolonged COVID. Children who once eagerly participated in sports may now be limited to short walking distances before resting. Others may assert that they have many bothersome symptoms, including constant weariness, sore muscles, vertigo, and many others.
One of COVID’s most worrisome traits is the possibility of cardiac damage. Parents need to be on the lookout for any cardiac signs, such as a rapid heartbeat, unexpected shortness of breath after only little activity, or a fast rise in heart rate.
Additionally, parents must be aware of the effects of stress on children after COVID, which can be hard to identify in very young children. Other youngsters may feel highly irritated when they cannot do chores that were easy for them before COVID. It’s important to remember that many children have lately lost loved ones or other important figures in their lives. Such a loss may significantly harm a child’s mental health.
How are young patients with chronic long COVID treated?
There is no set protocol for extended COVID in children, nor is there a single, accepted course of therapy. The Long Covid Clinics treat a wide range of young children who arrive with different illnesses.
After obtaining a comprehensive evaluation, patients are often sent to one or more subspecialists knowledgeable in a certain specialty. Because COVID can affect numerous organs and body parts, the team may include cardiologists, neurologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, psychiatrists, and others, and experts in pediatric infectious illnesses.
Most of the time, treating each ailment separately yields the best outcomes. For instance, a child with cognitive issues would be referred to a neurologist, whereas someone with chest pain and diminishing physical fitness might need a cardiac evaluation.
Treatment regimens for other illnesses with enduring symptoms, such as the ongoing tiredness following mononucleosis, may also have an impact.
So, for instance, once a cardiologist certifies that their hearts are healthy and a breathing test reveals that their oxygen exchange is good, doctors may counsel patients to gradually enhance their physical conditioning by gradually increasing aerobic and muscular exercise over time. Physical therapy is an excellent tool. In addition to seeing patients in the clinic, physical therapists also provide patients with a home exercise regimen that will help them gradually build up.
How can parents protect their children from chronic long COVID?
Taking all required precautions to maintain your health is the best way to protect yourself and your children. This entails immunizing your child when it is feasible to do so and following any local public health and social measures suggested, like maintaining a safe physical distance, using a mask, and having adequate ventilation. These can all reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.
You must see a doctor or physician before starting therapy or treatment if your child has Long COVID. To ensure your speedy recovery, Long Covid Clinics goes above and beyond. No matter how frequently you visit us, once a month or daily, it doesn’t have to be challenging or unpleasant.
