2023-09-25 10:51:00
Study Finds Rate of Long Covid in Children is “Strikingly Low”
A recent Canadian study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics has found that the rate of Long Covid in children is less than one percent, leading researchers to conclude that it is “strikingly low.” This is significantly lower than the rate of long-lasting symptoms observed in the general population, which is around ten percent.
Long Covid is characterized by symptoms that persist for an extended period after a Covid infection. Common symptoms include difficulty concentrating, fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and the well-known “brain fog,” which is characterized by exhaustion and a reduction in cognitive performance.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Long Covid as symptoms that occur three months after infection with the virus and persist for at least two months without any other explanation. However, the current study found that most children experienced a resolution of symptoms within two weeks of infection, suggesting a low risk of developing Long Covid.
The study examined more than 1,000 children in Alberta, Canada, with an average age of 10.5 years, between August 2020 and March 2021. To be considered as having Long Covid, children had to meet specific criteria, including a positive PCR test for Covid infection, new symptoms appearing three months after the positive test, and symptoms lasting for at least eight weeks.
The most common symptoms experienced by children in the study included a sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and fever. The authors of the study believe that only one child met the WHO definition of Long Covid.
Despite the low rate of Long Covid in children, previous studies have shown that children who have had Covid face an increased risk of heart and lung problems. They are also more susceptible to blood clots, kidney failure, and type 1 diabetes.
The most effective protective measure against Covid for children is vaccination. A data analysis from the Kaiser Permanente health insurance company in California found that vaccination significantly increases the protection rate against severe disease progression in Omicron patients aged between twelve and 17 to 87 percent.
While the study brings positive news regarding the rate of Long Covid in children, it is essential to continue monitoring the long-term impacts of the virus on this population and further support research efforts to better understand the disease.]
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