Between 1 in 5 and 1 in 10 pediatric infections — including both asymptomatic cases and those that are severe — are followed by long COVID symptoms, per a recent JAMA study.
That’s as many as 6 million U.S. children. And research suggests the risk rises with repeat infections. Meanwhile, symptoms can last three years or more.
Here's what the research published this month says:
Children who had COVID-19 were found to have significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes within six months of having COVID, compared to peers who had other respiratory illnesses.
What qualifies as long COVID? Symptoms must last at least three months to be considered long COVID. They can be physical, cognitive and mental. The exact symptoms can include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Extreme fatigue
- Brain fog
- Various types of pain
"We have convincing evidence that COVID-19 is not just a mild, benign illness for children," a professor of pediatrics and population health expert at Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School said.
The belief that COVID has little effect on children means people may not take adequate precautions to reduce the risk of exposure. And a lot of times it takes longer to reach a diagnosis, even after other causes for symptoms have been ruled out. That can lead to significant loss of function.
😷 Read more about why a study that underestimated COVID impact on kids was retracted.
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