A recent study titled Characterizing Long COVID in Children and Adolescents provides valuable insights into the prolonged symptoms experienced by youth following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Published in JAMA (August 21, 2024), this research, led by Rachel S. Gross, MD, MS, and colleagues, highlights the unique ways in which pediatric postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID, manifests in children and adolescents. The study, conducted by the RECOVER-Pediatrics Consortium, was part of a larger longitudinal cohort study of 5,367 participants aged 6-17 years across over 60 healthcare and community settings in the U.S., spanning from March 2022 to December 2023.
The study found that 14 symptoms were more common in both school-age children (6-11 years) and adolescents (12-17 years) with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those without. In addition, four symptoms were unique to school-age children, and three others were unique to adolescents. These symptoms affected multiple organ systems, including neurocognitive, pain, and gastrointestinal systems. The research team developed distinct research indices for pediatric PASC, identifying symptom patterns and how they differ between school-age children and adolescents.
Key findings revealed that for school-age children, the most common symptoms included neurocognitive issues, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms, while for adolescents, the predominant symptoms involved changes in smell or taste, pain, and fatigue/malaise. The study also identified symptom clustering patterns, with four distinct symptom phenotypes in school-age children and three in adolescents. These symptom patterns were associated with poorer overall health and quality of life.
The study’s conclusions emphasize the importance of understanding pediatric PASC separately for different age groups, as symptom patterns in school-age children and adolescents show distinct differences. The development of empirically derived research indices for PASC can assist future studies in better characterizing the condition and understanding the underlying mechanisms that may guide treatments for children and adolescents affected by long COVID.
Recognition: Gross RS and the RECOVER Pediatric Consortium (Gaur S). Characterizing Long COVID in Children and Adolescents. JAMA 2024 Aug 21;332(14):1174-1188. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.12747