Post-COVID Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies, 2025, Fariza

[Dolphin]

https://ulopenaccess.com/papers/ULMHS_V03I02/ULMHS20250302_010.pdf

Post-COVID Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies

Sultan Fariza

Graduate of the Residency Program in Infectious Diseases, including Pediatric Infectious Diseases, at Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.

Abstract

Citation: Sultan Fariza, “Post-COVID Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies”, Universal Library of Medical and Health Sciences, 2025; 3(2): 61-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70315/uloap. ulmhs.2025.0302010.

This article presents analysis of the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for pediatric post-COVID syndrome based on current international cohort studies and the experience of specialized long COVID clinics.

The research adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates insights from pediatrics, neuropsychology, epidemiology, and educational medicine.

Particular attention is given to the structuring of symptoms by age group, analysis of validated diagnostic tools (PedsQL, RCADS, SDSC, Chalder Fatigue Scale), and the comparison between post-COVID syndrome (PCS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Based on the Delphi definition of long COVID, a stratification of complaints and description of clinical-behavioral phenotypes is proposed. The article includes three tables summarizing symptom frequency, diagnostic instruments, and distinctions between PCS and other post-viral conditions.

Diagnostic challenges are highlighted, including the lack of visible correlates, low specificity of laboratory findings, and insufficient awareness among primary care providers.

Modern management tactics used in the UK and Italy are discussed: multidisciplinary teams, psychoeducation, school support, telemedicine, and online programs for adolescents.

Limitations of the current system are also examined, particularly long waiting times and the lack of unified clinical pathways.

This article will be of interest to pediatricians, neurologists, general practitioners, school health specialists, educational managers, and researchers involved in developing clinical and behavioral protocols for pediatric post-COVID rehabilitation.

Keywords: Post-COVID Syndrome, Long COVID, Children, Pediatrics, Diagnosis, Rehabilitation.

 

[Dolphin]

Following confirmation of PCS, differential diagnosis must consider syndromes such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and functional somatoform disorders [9]. Although these conditions share symptoms—fatigue, cognitive impairment, and emotional lability—PCS is distinguished by greater variability in its course, a specific temporal link to prior COVID-19 infection, and a broader spectrum of neurological and autonomic manifestations [3]. Table 1 presents a side-by-side comparison of diagnostic parameters for pediatric PCS and ME/CFS.

 

[Midnattsol]

Another limitation of the current system would be lack of useful treatments, surely.

 

[rvallee]

Another limitation of the current system would be lack of useful treatments, surely.

Yes, but they have teams with lots of experience not delivering useful treatments, and apparently that counts as health care. Somehow.

It's not as if it's widely acknowledged that there are no treatments. Boy would that be weird.