The long Covid-19 is increasingly well known among adults. Is this persistent form of the infection possible in children and adolescents?
The long form of Covid-19 disease was quickly identified. From the end of the first wave epidemic, the doctors noted in patients a convalescence which dragged on. The persons concerned present several symptoms which can fluctuate and represent a handicap for daily life. The Covid-19 long concerns more than 20% of adults infected after five weeks and more than 10% of patients after three months. One year after infection, almost 40% of adults have at least one more symptom.
For children, infection with SARS-CoV-2 is usually asymptomatic or mild. However, long forms have also been describedmuch more rarely than in adults.
How often does long-term Covid-19 occur in children?
A meta-analysis covering 14 international studies looked into the question — as a reminder, a meta-analysis is a method for the combined analysis of data from independent studies. This made it possible to gather information from the files of 19,426 children. The results show that 2 to 5% of children would be affected by the long form of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The younger the children, the rarer the long forms of Covid-19.
What are the symptoms ?
Still according to this same meta-analysis, the symptoms most commonly described during a long Covid-19 in children are headaches, fatigue, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating and pains abdominal. These symptoms are not specific to the infection: they could also be secondary to the anxiety-provoking situation experienced by the children, especially during the period when schools and classrooms were closed. It is also interesting to note that, if risk factors of Covid-19 have clearly been identified in adults, this has not yet been the case in children.
Furthermore, before concluding that there is a long Covid-19, it is necessary to eliminate any other diagnostic possible. For this, the doctor will carry out a rigorous clinical examination and will prescribe check-ups if necessary. The symptoms mentioned above can evoke other diseases such as an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease, a pathology thyroid, a diabetes or another infection.
How long do the symptoms last?
In the event of proven long Covid-19 in children, the symptoms can last at least up to twelve weeks according to the available data. We do not have studies on durations longer.
What are the causes of long Covid-19?
The pathophysiological mechanisms behind a prolonged form of long-lasting Covid in children have not yet been clearly identified. On the other hand, a syndrome has already been described, that of chronic fatigue post-infectious. It could be linked to high concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
What are the treatments ?
the processing of these patients is necessary in order to minimize the impact of the symptoms on the daily life of the child and his family. Multidisciplinary management is based on that of chronic fatigue syndrome.
This may include:
- effort rehabilitation, thanks to a physiotherapist;
- help with sleep regulation: fixed bedtimes, limitation of screen time;
- psychological support: the appearance of this type of symptom is often a source of stress for the child and his family. Methods such as relaxation, sophrology, meditation can be proposed;
- adaptation of school time;
- drug treatments: analgesics, psychotropic in the most severe forms.
What is the prognosis?
the prognosis is rather good in the medium term, even in the short term.
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