New Study Reveals Long Covid Symptoms In Children: What To Watch For
Several countries around the world including India are witnessing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. While the infection leads to respiratory symptoms for a few days, some serious consequences may last longer than expected. Long Covid is one of the serious complications of Covid-19 that can affect you for weeks and even months.
For the unversed, long Covid is a collection of symptoms that you might experience after your initial Covid symptoms. Long Covid symptoms usually last for three months and even longer in some cases. Symptoms may stay the same over time, get worse, or go away and come back.
Long Covid can cause extreme fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, problems with taste and smell, sleep issues, shortness of breath and frequent digestive issues.
Symptoms of long Covid in children
Symptoms of long Covid can affect people of all ages including children. A recent research, published in the JAMA Pediatrics has listed down the symptoms of long covid in children. However, these symptoms may vary depending on the child's age, whether they are an infant, toddler, preschool-aged child, or an older child. Researchers evaluated 472 infants/toddlers and 539 preschool-aged children across the US.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have mentioned that in children younger than 2 years old, symptoms may go unnoticed. Therefore, it is crucial for parents and caregivers to not ignore symptoms like fussiness, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, cough and stuffy nose.
A dry cough along with daytime fatigue or low energy are signs observed in preschool-aged kids (3-5 years).
The study also mentioned that children with these symptoms often had worse overall health, poor quality of life and delays in development.
"This study is important because it shows that long COVID symptoms in young children are different from those in older children and adults," co-first author Tanayott (Tony) Thaweeth associate director of Biostatistics Research and Engagement at Massachusetts General Hospital
(MGH), a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School said in a release.
Who is at risk of long Covid?
Females
Individuals who have had severe Covid-19
Those who had multisystem inflammatory disorder (MIS-C) during or after having Covid
Individuals with pre-existing conditions like lung disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure
Unvaccinated individuals
If you have long Covid, seek help from an expert to prevent further consequences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
COVID-19 update, June 2: 4 new deaths in India, active toll nears 4,000 — latest updates
COVID-19 news, June 2 updates: As of 8 am today, India's active COVID-19 cases now stand at 3,961, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) on June 2, 2025. The daily bulletin also noted that 203 new cases were added to the official tally on June 1, taking the total near 4,000. Further, overall, since January 2025, the death toll due to COVID-19 is at 32, with five new deaths reported on June 1 (Sunday), it added. Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala each reported one COVID-19 death since Sunday. Delhi reported 47 more COVID-19 cases, increasing the total active cases in the national capital to 483. In Kerala, active COVID-19 cases rose to 1,435, with 35 new cases reported since Sunday. In Maharashtra, 21 new COVID-19 cases were reported, taking the active case count to 506. In West Bengal, 44 new COVID-19 cases were reported, increasing the state's active cases to 331. On Friday, Union Minister of State for Health and AYUSH (Independent Charge), Prataprao Jadhav, assured that the Centre is fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. "Both our Central Health Department and the AYUSH Ministry are fully alert and closely monitoring the situation across all states. We have spoken with the respective Health and AYUSH Secretaries, as well as other concerned ministers," Jadhav had told ANI. He added that the infrastructure developed during the earlier Covid-19 waves has been reviewed and that preparations are underway to deal with any eventuality. "We've reviewed the infrastructure built during the earlier Covid waves, such as oxygen plants and ICU beds, and have already begun preparations. Our health systems are well-equipped and ready to handle any situation that may arise in response to Covid," he had said. Meanwhile, given the current COVID-19 situation in the state, the Karnataka Health Department had issued a circular asking government and private schools to take precautions in the interest of school children's health. The instructions are as follows: If schoolchildren develop fever, cough, cold, and other symptoms, do not send them to school. Follow appropriate treatment and care measures as advised by the doctor.
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Viral surge: Three new Covid cases take tally to 12 in state
BHUBANESWAR: As Covid-19 cases continue to surge across the country, Odisha reported three new infections in last 24 hours taking the total number to 12 on Sunday. Confirming the new cases, director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said the patients are in home isolation and their condition is stable. He, however, attempted to allay fears over a reported Covid-related death in the city. The elderly person, who tested Covid positive a few days back, died on Saturday while undergoing treatment at his home. 'Field units have been tasked to find out whether any Covid positive patient has died and if it is directly linked to the virus or has resulted from other underlying diseases,' he said. While officials maintained that the situation is under control, health experts raised concern over the state government's cautious communication strategy, which some alleged is aimed more at suppressing facts than ensuring transparency. Even as reports emerged a day earlier about the death of an 85-year-old Covid patient with comorbidities, the department is yet to verify the fatality. This delay in confirmation is not an isolated case.
New Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Breathing easy, by preparing well
BENGALURU: UST a few hundred fresh Covid-19 cases may not set off panic yet — but what happens if the numbers suddenly double or triple, like they did before? Are we really ready this time? A reality check by TNIE reveals that Karnataka is not taking any chances. After witnessing the devastation caused by previous Covid-19 waves, particularly the oxygen crisis during the second wave, the health and medical education department are moving swiftly to ensure that critical infrastructure built during the pandemic doesn't fall into disuse. Take the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plants, for instance. During the peak of the pandemic, 243 such plants were installed across district and taluk hospitals to ensure a steady oxygen supply. Each plant came with an annual maintenance cost of around Rs 5 lakh. In the months that followed, as Covid cases declined, many of these units were neglected and became defunct. But now, with cases gradually rising again in neighbouring countries and also within Karnataka, the state has reactivated most of these plants. District health officials have been instructed to carry out maintenance checks and ensure they are fully operational — a move that seems like a lesson learnt against the overall scramble seen during earlier waves. The state has kept its systems warm — from oxygen infrastructure and isolation wards to rapid testing capabilities — and officials say they are prepared to scale up within days if required. Rather than treating preparedness as a 'crisis-only' strategy, the state is treating it as a permanent feature of its health system. The panic button has been pressed early — not because the situation is dire yet, but because the cost of being unprepared is one the state cannot afford to repeat, officials say.
