New Report Reveals 5.8 Million Children Affected by Long COVID Symptoms, Including Neurological and Autoimmune Conditions
A new report from Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center has shed light on the alarming number of children affected by long COVID. According to the report, an estimated 5.8 million children across the nation have experienced the effects of long COVID, ranging from common symptoms like fatigue and cough to more severe neurological and autoimmune conditions.
While most young people who contract COVID-19 recover quickly, a significant portion of them continue to experience symptoms that can persist for months or even years. However, experts emphasize that data on these cases is still emerging, and there is a pressing need for greater awareness and understanding of long COVID in children.
Dr. Melissa Stockwell, a pediatrician and chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health at Columbia, co-authored the report and expressed concern about the impact of long COVID on children’s quality of life. She highlighted that while some children may experience mild symptoms, others face highly debilitating symptoms that affect their ability to attend school, socialize with friends, and engage in activities crucial for their development.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines long COVID as ongoing health problems that persist for four or more weeks after the initial infection. The new study, which will be published in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reveals that approximately 5.8 million children have been affected by long COVID.
The estimate is based on federal surveys analyzed by the CDC, which found that nearly 20% of adults who contracted the virus experienced symptoms three months later. Additionally, about 18% of all COVID cases were children. However, there are currently no definitive blood tests or biomarkers available to diagnose long COVID, making it challenging to determine the exact number of children affected.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for more research on long COVID in children. While most published studies have focused on adults, limited information is available on the pediatric population. Ongoing research aims to identify why some children develop long-term symptoms while others do not.
Currently, there are only about a dozen pediatric post-COVID-19 programs nationwide, with one located in Brooklyn. Stony Brook Medicine’s Post-COVID Clinic in Lake Grove has treated approximately 1,500 adult patients but does not cater to children.
The Columbia study reveals that fatigue and malaise are the most common manifestations of long COVID in children. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, difficulty concentrating, and mental health concerns. However, the study also highlights less common conditions that children with long COVID may face, such as type 1 diabetes, brain fog, chronic fatigue syndrome, and autoimmune diseases like lupus and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, suggests that the virus may “jump-start” the potential for severe illness in many long COVID patients. She explains that the virus can lead to future health problems like autoimmune or neurological issues.
The report emphasizes the importance of specific focus on children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those with medical complexity, and those experiencing prolonged debilitating symptoms.
The article features the story of Concetta Van Winckel’s 9-year-old daughter, Evelyn, who suffered from long COVID symptoms for about seven months. Evelyn experienced pain in various parts of her body and persistent fatigue after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite undergoing months of therapy and treatment, Evelyn has now recovered and is participating in the ongoing Columbia study on pediatric long COVID patients. However, the fear of a re-emergence of symptoms remains for her and her family.
The report from Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center serves as a wake-up call to the medical community and the public regarding the significant number of children affected by long COVID. Greater awareness, research, and support are needed to understand the long-term effects of the virus on children and provide appropriate care and treatment.
