Rates, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Complications After COVID-19 in Children, 2024, Rattanawijit et al.

[SNT Gatchaman]

Rates, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Complications After COVID-19 in Children
Rattanawijit, Mallika; Samutpong, Arisara; Apiwattanakul, Nopporn; Assawawiroonhakarn, Surapat; Techasaensiri, Chonnamet; Boonsathorn, Sophida; Chaisavaneeyakorn, Sujittra

BACKGROUND
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to various complications, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and post-COVID-19 conditions (long COVID). This study aimed to determine the rates, risk factors and outcomes of MIS-C and long COVID in children previously diagnosed with COVID-19.

METHODS
This study was a combined retrospective and prospective cohort study. Patients 0–18 years of age diagnosed with COVID-19 or another respiratory virus infection were enrolled between October 2021 and April 2022. Demographic and clinical data were reviewed. Information on persisting symptoms and their impacts were recorded at 1–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months after infection. Laboratory investigations and chest imaging examinations were performed during follow-up. MIS-C and long COVID were defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) definitions.

RESULTS
A total of 618 patients were enrolled, comprising 437 (70.7%) with COVID-19 and 181 (29.3%) with another respiratory virus infection. At 1–3 months, the rate of persisting symptoms was 16.5% in patients with COVID-19, compared with 1.1% in patients with another respiratory virus infection. The rate of MIS-C was 0.7%. The rate of long COVID according to the CDC and WHO definitions were 20.4% and 13.0%, respectively. Respiratory systems were most affected in long COVID. Age 5–18 years, anosmia during COVID-19, history of pneumonia and infection during the delta and omicron waves were associated with long COVID in children.

CONCLUSIONS
Long COVID after COVID-19 in children is uncommon. Children with anosmia and a history of pneumonia during COVID-19 require follow-up for long COVID.

Link (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

Long COVID after COVID-19 in children is uncommon.

Discussion said —

This study compared the complications in children diagnosed with COVID-19 and children diagnosed with other respiratory virus infections in a tertiary care hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The rates of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 in this pediatric population were 17.6%, 16.5%, 9.2% and 6.2% at <1, 1–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months of follow-up, respectively. In the patients with other respiratory virus infections, the rates of persistent symptoms were 2.2%, 1.1%, 0% and 0% at <1, 1–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months, respectively.

In conclusion, one-fifth of Thai pediatric patients with COVID-19 subsequently developed long COVID.

 

[Utsikt]

While 20 % is probably ‘uncommon’ in isolation, I don’t think that an appropriate word to describe an health issue that might affect 20 % of the entire population of children.

 

[Utsikt]

You wouldn’t say «death is uncommon» if 1/5 died. So it’s relative.

 

[Peter T]

Also given the number of cases of Covid, even if you look only at the percentages getting Long Covid and chose to characterise it as uncommon, it is still grossly misleading given there are still in absolute terms a lot of individuals impacted.