Long COVID In Young Children Raises Concern: Check Symptoms
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A recent study has revealed that long COVID in young children differ significantly from those seen in older children and adults.
Several countries around the world, including India, are witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases once again. While the infection leads to respiratory symptoms for a few days, some health consequences may last longer than expected. Long COVID is one of the biggest complications of the COVID-19 pandemic that can affect you for weeks and even months.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), long COVID is a chronic condition that can persist for three months or longer after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing.
Shedding light on how long COVID affects young children, researchers at Mass General Brigham recently listed the key symptoms that can be difficult to detect. The research, published in JAMA Paediatrics, evaluated over 1,000 children across the United States, including 472 infants and toddlers (under age 2) and 539 preschoolers (ages 3 to 5).
Long COVID in children: Symptoms
Researchers found that symptoms of long COVID in young children differ significantly from those seen in older children and adults. The research mentioned that symptoms may go unnoticed in children younger than 2 years. Hence, parents and caregivers must observe fussiness, trouble sleeping, poor appetite, stuffy nose, and cough in infants and toddlers. For children aged 3 to 5, a dry cough along with daytime fatigue or low energy can be the symptoms to be observed.
'This study is important because it shows that long COVID symptoms in young children are different from those in older children and adults," said Dr Tanayott (Tony) Thaweethai, co-first author of the study and associate director of Biostatistics Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. The study also noted that children exhibiting these symptoms often had worsened overall health, reduced quality of life, and delays in development.
Females, individuals who have had severe COVID-19, those who had multisystem inflammatory disorder (MIS-C) during or after having COVID, and individuals with pre-existing conditions like lung disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are more likely to experience long-term effects. Unvaccinated individuals will also be prone to developing long COVID.
Parents and carers are advised not to dismiss any signs. If your child seems off, it's essential to have a word with your paediatrician.
First Published:
June 03, 2025, 10:22 IST
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