May 2022 - General
This is a new literature review updated in May 2022. In case some essential information is missing, please contact us at: : rafael@hcuge.ch.
Long-term physical, mental and social health effects of COVID-19 in the pediatric population: a scoping review
Borel M, Xie L, Kapera O, Mihalcea A, Kahn J, Messiah SE. World J Pediatr. 2022 Feb 3:1–11. doi: 10.1007/s12519-022-00515-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35118594; PMCID: PMC8812346.
The few studies that have documented long-term physical symptoms in children show that fatigue, difficulty in concentrating (brain fog), sleep disturbances, and sensory problems are the most reported outcomes. Pediatric COVID-19 cases are underreported due to low rates of testing and symptomatic infection, which calls for more longitudinal studies. Children who have experienced COVID-19 illness should be monitored for long physiological, psychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes.
Link to study: Long-term physical, mental and social health effects of COVID-19 in the pediatric population: a scoping review
Long COVID symptoms in SARS-CoV-2-positive adolescents and matched controls (LongCOVIDKidsDK): a national, cross-sectional study
Kikkenborg Berg S, Dam Nielsen S, Nygaard U, Bundgaard H, Palm P, Rotvig C, Vinggaard Christensen A. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022 Feb 7:S2352-4642(22)00004-9. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00004-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35143771; PMCID: PMC8820960.
LongCOVIDKidsDK was a national, cross-sectional study carried out in Denmark, which included SARS-CoV-2-positive adolescents and matched controls. All Danish adolescents aged 15-18 years with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during the period Jan 1, 2020, to July 12, 2021, and a control group matched (1:4) by age and sex were sent a survey from July 20, 2021. 24 315 adolescents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (case group) and 97 257 matched controls were invited to participate. 3013 matched controls were excluded because of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. 6630 (27·3%) responded in the case group and 21 640 (22·3%) responded and were eligible to participate in the control group. Across both groups, median age was 17·6 years (IQR 16·4-18·5), 16 277 (57·6%) of 28 270 responders were female, and 11 993 (42·4%) were male. Participants in the case group had greater odds of having at least one long COVID symptom lasting at least 2 months compared with the control group (3159 [61·9%] vs 12 340 [57·0%], odds ratio 1·22 [95% CI 1·15-1·30]; p<0·0001). Participants in the case group reported significantly lower symptom scores (ie, less somatic distress) on the CSSI-24 than in the control group: mean 10·7 (SD 11·4, median 7·0 [IQR 2·0-15·0]) versus 11·9 (10·6, 9·0 [4·0-17·0]; p<0·0001). Participants in the case group had better quality of life scores on the PedsQL than in the control group: physical functioning mean score 88·7 (SD 13·9, median 93·8 [IQR 84·4-100·0]) versus 86·5 (14·3, 90·6 [81·3-96·9]; p<0·0001); emotional functioning 77·1 (20·3, 80·0 [65·0-95·0]) versus 71·7 (21·4, 75·0 [60·0-90·0]; p<0·0001); social functioning 93·1 (12·5, 100·0 [90·0-100·0]) versus 88·4 (16·2, 95·0 [80·0-100·0]; p<0·0001); and school functioning 66·9 (22·5, 65·0 [60·0-85·0]) versus 62·9 (22·1, 65·0 [50·0-80·0]; p<0·0001). More participants in the case group than in the control group reported 16 or more sick days (1205 [18·2%] vs 2518 [11·6%]; p<0·0001) and 16 or more days of school absence (695 [10·5%] vs 1777 [8·2%]; p<0·0001).Participants with SARS-CoV-2-positive tests had more long-lasting symptoms and sick leave, whereas participants in the control group had more short-lasting symptoms and worse quality of life. Knowledge of long COVID in adolescents is important to guide clinical recognition and management of this condition.
Link to study: Long COVID symptoms in SARS-CoV-2-positive adolescents and matched controls (LongCOVIDKidsDK): a national, cross-sectional study
Physical and mental health 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) among adolescents in England (CLoCk): a national matched cohort study
Stephenson T, Pinto Pereira SM, Shafran R, de Stavola BL, Rojas N, McOwat K, Simmons R, Zavala M, O'Mahoney L, Chalder T, Crawley E, Ford TJ, Harnden A, Heyman I, Swann O, Whittaker E; CLoCk Consortium, Ladhani SN.. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022 Feb 7:S2352-4642(22)00022-0. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00022-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35143770; PMCID: PMC8820961.
In this national cohort study in the UK, adolescents aged 11-17 years from the Public Health England database who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between January and March, 2021, were matched by month of test, age, sex, and geographical region to adolescents who tested negative. 3 months after testing, a subsample of adolescents were contacted to complete a detailed questionnaire. 23 048 adolescents who tested positive and 27 798 adolescents who tested negative between Jan 1, 2021, and March 31, 2021, were contacted, and 6804 adolescents (3065 who tested positive and 3739 who tested negative) completed the questionnaire (response rate 13·4%). At 3 months after testing, the most common symptoms among the test-positive group were tiredness (1196 [39·0%]), headache (710 [23·2%]), and shortness of breath (717 [23·4%]), and among the test-negative group were tiredness (911 [24·4%]), headache (530 [14·2%]), and other (unspecified; 590 [15·8%]). Adolescents who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had similar symptoms to those who tested negative, but had a higher prevalence of single and, particularly, multiple symptoms at the time of PCR testing and 3 months later. Clinicians should consider multiple symptoms that affect functioning and recognise different clusters of symptoms. The multiple and varied symptoms show that a multicomponent intervention will be required, and that mental and physical health symptoms occur concurrently, reflecting their close relationship.
Link to study : Physical and mental health 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) among adolescents in England (CLoCk): a national matched cohort study
Healthcare use in 700 000 children and adolescents for six months after covid-19: before and after register based cohort study
Magnusson K, Skyrud KD, Suren P, Greve-Isdahl M, Størdal K, Kristoffersen DT, Telle K. BMJ. 2022 Jan 17;376:e066809. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-066809. PMID: 35039315; PMCID: PMC8762452.
Link to study: Healthcare use in 700 000 children and adolescents for six months after covid-19: before and after register based cohort study
Long-Term COVID 19 Sequelae in Adolescents: the Overlap with Orthostatic Intolerance and ME/CFS
Morrow AK, Malone LA, Kokorelis C, Petracek LS, Eastin EF, Lobner KL, Neuendorff L, Rowe PC. Curr Pediatr Rep. 2022 Mar 9:1-14. doi: 10.1007/s40124-022-00261-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35287333; PMCID: PMC8906524.
Link to study : Long-Term COVID 19 Sequelae in Adolescents: the Overlap with Orthostatic Intolerance and ME/CFS
Long COVID in Children and Adolescents
Gupta M, Gupta N, Esang M. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2022 Apr 26;24(2):21r03218. doi: 10.4088/PCC.21r03218. PMID: 35486940.
Link to study: Long COVID in Children and Adolescents
Long COVID in children
Goldman RD. Can Fam Physician. 2022 Apr;68(4):263-265. doi: 10.46747/cfp.6804263. PMID: 35418390; PMCID: PMC9007126.
Link to study : Long COVID in children
Long-term outcomes of pediatric infections: from traditional infectious diseases to long Covid
Buonsenso D, Di Gennaro L, De Rose C, Morello R, D'Ilario F, Zampino G, Piazza M, Boner AL, Iraci C, O'Connell S, Cohen VB, Esposito S, Munblit D, Reena J, Sigfrid L, Valentini P. Future Microbiol. 2022 May;17:551-571. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0031. Epub 2022 Mar 10. PMID: 35264003; PMCID: PMC8910780.
Link to study : Long-term outcomes of pediatric infections: from traditional infectious diseases to long Covid
Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and young people: A meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled studies
Behnood SA, Shafran R, Bennett SD, Zhang AXD, O'Mahoney LL, Stephenson TJ, Ladhani SN, De Stavola BL, Viner RM, Swann OV. J Infect. 2022 Feb;84(2):158-170. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.011. Epub 2021 Nov 20. PMID: 34813820; PMCID: PMC8604800.
Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children - a nationwide cohort study
Borch L, Holm M, Knudsen M, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Hagstroem S. Eur J Pediatr. 2022 Apr;181(4):1597-1607. doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04345-z. Epub 2022 Jan 9. PMID: 35000003; PMCID: PMC8742700.
Link to study: Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children - a nationwide cohort study
