According to study, Long COVID symptoms in children and adolescents are sometimes different to those in adults

Children and adolescents can also develop Long COVID. However, according to the results of the US RECOVER Initiative, some of the symptoms appear to be different from those of adults. Last year, the research project had already reported on various symptom clusters in adults. The symptoms of those suffering can differ from one another. Among people with Long COVID, different groups with similar symptom patterns can be distinguished, i.e. different symptom clusters. These clusters can facilitate the diagnosis of Long COVID. In August, the research group published results on children and adolescents in the JAMA journal. In total, the legal guardians of 898 children and 4,469 adolescents were surveyed. Of these, 751 children and 3,109 adolescents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus more than a year ago on average. 

The research team found 4 different symptom clusters in school-age children. One cluster focussed on headaches, pain in muscles, joints and other parts of the body as well as daytime tiredness, sleepiness or lack of energy. Children in another symptom cluster mainly suffered from sleep disorders and memory or concentration problems. Another group was characterised by stomach pain and nausea or vomiting. A fourth cluster was made up of children with a heavy symptom burden with many different symptoms.

The research team found 3 different symptom clusters for adolescents. In one cluster, daytime tiredness, sleepiness or lack of energy as well as pain in muscles, joints and other parts of the body were frequently reported. In another cluster, the focus was on a change in or loss of the sense of smell or taste. A third group also reported a heavy symptom burden with many different symptoms.

According to the researchers, the results of the study can contribute to the diagnosis of Long COVID in children and adolescents.