Researchers at King’s College, London analyzed data provided by parents and carers to Zoe COVID-19 study. Their findings in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal confirm what we always hoped (see link below). Their sample of children seldom had long lasting COVID, and only a small number had symptoms lasting over eight weeks.
What The Researchers Discovered When They Asked
The researchers suspected COVID-19 in children was generally asymptomatic, or showed mild signs. They acquired data on 1,734 children, aged between 5 and 17 to learn more about this. This information revealed that long-duration COVID-19 can occur among kids. However, they seldom develop long lasting COVID as severely as adults may.
Moreover, when it happens it is uncommon, with less than 4% of bouts lasting more than four weeks, while symptoms gradually become milder. Moreover, almost all children recover fully, with just 2% still showing signs after 8 weeks.
Headaches and tiredness are commonest complaints, although sore throats and loss of smell also feature in their data. There is a tendency for older children to be slightly ill longer, compared to primary school kids. The latter were typically ill for five days, while the older ones averaged a week.
Children Seldom Have Long Lasting COVID But Some Do
The researchers were concerned about the effects of COVID on learning, and school performance generally. However, the kids in their database did not appear to experience attention problems, memory complaints, or anxiety. They did, however note that illness generally leads to low mood and irritability among children.
One takeaway from this is COVID-19 symptoms may overlay with other respiratory diseases like colds and influenza. Parents should therefore take medical advice when symptoms appear. Remember, there is always a possibility of COVID symptoms spreading to parents and grandparents, with potentially more severe consequences.
Recent
Fenofibrate Reduces COVID Infections in Lab
Lasting Lung Damage from COVID-19
Preview Image: Remote Education Initiative
