New research by English scientists suggests one in seven infected English kids had Long COVID afterwards, and suffered from persistent symptoms. They studied 3,000 people aged 11 to 17 who tested positive between January and March 2021. And then they compared their findings with 3,700 children who tested negative at the time.
Were One in Seven English Kids With Long COVID Typical?
The study, short-named CLoCk for ‘Children and Young People with Long COVID’ has funding from two research groups. These are National Institute for Health Research, and UK Research and Innovation adding authority to the findings.
The report concludes Long COVID was the likely cause of one in seven positive children experiencing three or more symptoms. These endured for up to 15 weeks after infection surfaced. Moreover, one in 14 children reported five or more symptoms.
The researchers generalized their finding that one in seven infected English kids may have had Long COVID, to the English population. This suggested at least 4,000 and possibly 32,000 teenagers may have had multiple symptoms at the time.
Could 32,000 Teenagers Have Suffered Unnoticed at the Time?
It’s hard to believe so many children suffered undetected, without somebody noticing. Our thoughts are with their parents, and their studies at school. Physical symptoms included unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches, and loss of taste or smell. Was this really the tip of the iceberg?
Sir Terence Stephenson, Nuffield professor of child health at University College London believes the actual results were lower. But he ‘remains concerned that some children are still very severely afflicted.
‘There may be some young people who are completely bed-ridden, or remain very short of breath or have daily headaches,’ he continues. The researchers will continue their CLoCk study for two more years, and we shall follow it with interest.
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