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Some research estimates that 25% of children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus could develop long COVID.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many consequences, including long COVID, a persistent condition that affects patients months or even years after infection. Although initial research focused on adults, new studies show that children are also at risk. It is estimated that 25% of children who contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus could develop long COVID, highlighting the urgent need to increase vaccination coverage in this vulnerable population.
Long COVID can manifest in children in two ways: as multisystem inflammatory syndrome or as long COVID. In both cases, the symptoms can affect the quality of life of minors, both physically and in their academic performance, as they may suffer fatigue, sleep problems and cognitive alterations that make it difficult for them to concentrate.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long COVID in children
In the case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome, symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and skin rashes, while long COVID can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and memory problems. These effects not only affect children who presented symptoms during infection, but also those who had asymptomatic disease.
According to the doctor Yamile Sandoval, medical vaccine manager Asofarma“Long COVID has a significant impact on the daily lives of children and adolescents, with effects that can manifest in their school performance and general well-being”.
The importance of childhood vaccination
As scientists continue to investigate the effects of long COVID, it has been noted that vaccination plays a key role in preventing this condition. Recent studies in the United States highlight the importance of vaccination in reducing the risk of long COVID in children, a particularly relevant issue at a time when childhood immunization coverage has stagnated globally.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2023 more than 2.7 million children around the world did not receive the necessary vaccines, which increases the risk of infection not only with COVID-19, but also from other diseases such as influenza and measles. Therefore, It is essential that the population be vaccinated annually against COVID-19, especially to protect themselves from new variants of the virus.
