Questions from parents
Children don’t often get covid-19, but they do get sick sometimes and in rare cases need hospitalization. Pediatric lung doctors at the Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC cannot properly answer questions from parents about how the child will continue, ‘according to the Amsterdam UMC.
Multiple hospitals
The ‘COPP2’ study is being done by Emma with other children’s hospitals in the country, including Sophia in Rotterdam, MUMC Maastricht and Willem-Alexander hospital in Leiden. ‘A lot is already known in adults, less in children. The prospects for the children are probably good, but that is not certain, ‘says research leader Caroline Brackel of Amsterdam UMC.
Long-term complaints in children?
It is known that (young) adults who have had covid-19 (with and without hospitalization) can have long-lasting symptoms of fatigue, concentration problems, shortness of breath and loss of condition. Only limited data is available on the consequences for children and no international research has yet been conducted into this. Despite the reassuring information that pediatric (lung) doctors currently have about the coronavirus at a young age, it is important to conduct this follow-up study so that parents and children can be better informed and guided in the future.
Follow-up research
The COPP2 study is led by pediatric pulmonologists Suzanne Terheggen-Lagro and Caroline Brackel and is a collaboration between 47 Dutch pediatric units, the COPP study, and the Dutch Association of Pediatrics. They want to find an answer to the question, without burdening the child too much, “What effect does covid-19 have on children?” This COPP2 study is a continuation of the earlier study, in which children who have been diagnosed in hospital with covid-19 complaints and whose details have been recorded on physical examination, radiological or blood tests.
Invitation to follow-up investigation
For the second phase, patients are invited for a follow-up visit to Amsterdam UMC, MUMC or Erasmus MC, six to twelve months after admission to hospital. During an appointment at the outpatient clinic, the doctor checks whether there are any permanent complaints or abnormalities. Questionnaires are used to chart the quality of life and investigate lung function. We are working hard to expand this research, which will also examine the kidneys, blood clotting, heart function and immune response. This provides a complete picture of the possible long-term effects of covid-19 in children.
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