Long COVID in children – What parents need to know
The symptoms of long COVID in children, treatments and keeping them safe
Fortunately, children have a very low risk of becoming severely unwell from COVID-19. Most children make a full recovery from the virus without showing any symptoms at all.
However, some children have gotten sick, and some have developed long COVID, where they experience symptoms that affect their physical, mental or social well-being for months after a COVID infection.
This can affect their ability to do daily activities like schoolwork or sports. For example, children who used to be actively engaged in sports may now be barely able to make it down the street without taking a break.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about long COVID, including why some children who only experience mild symptoms of COVID-19 go on to develop long COVID. This lack of certainty can be frustrating for children who are suffering from the condition and their parents.
>> Some of the latest research on long COVID in children can be found here
Children and adolescents might have one or several of the following symptoms of long COVID:
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Getting easily exhausted
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Constantly feeling tired
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Anxiety or tightness in the chest
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Difficulty breathing
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Difficulty thinking (also known as brain fog)
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Hair loss
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Loss of appetite and weight loss (from a loss of smell or taste)
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Sore muscles
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Joint pain or swelling
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Dizziness
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Skin rashes
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Diarrhoea
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Earache or ringing in the ears
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Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
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Feeling sick
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Mood swings
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A more noticeable or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
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Fever
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Sensitivity to light
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Sore eyes or throat
"What treatments are there for children with long COVID?"
If your child is experiencing symptoms of long COVID, it’s important to get them seen by an experienced paediatrician.
Treatment for long COVID is aimed at improving their overall quality of life and is most effective when it addresses each symptom individually.
The evaluation your child receives should depend on their individual symptoms. For example, if your child is having mostly chest pain, they should be sent to a cardiologist for an evaluation. If they are having trouble thinking clearly, they should have an evaluation more focused on neurology.
In most cases, children recover from long COVID within a few months. But for some children, it can take a long time to feel better.
During this time, it’s important that parents keep an eye on their child’s mental health. Mental health problems can creep in and further delay children’s recovery if they’re not properly addressed.
>> More information on long COVID
"How can parents protect their children against long COVID?"
The best way you can protect your children from long COVID is by doing everything you can to avoid getting infected with COVID-19 in the first place. Avoid crowded places, wear a mask when you can’t keep a distance, open doors and windows to improve ventilation indoors and follow the public health guidance where you live.
This includes getting your child vaccinated against COVID-19 when it's available to them. Vaccination helps stop children from getting severely sick from COVID-19 and could also help reduce their risk of getting long COVID.
>> More information on children and COVID-19 vaccination in South Asia
