Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s RECOVER Initiative have identified important symptoms of Long COVID in school-age children and adolescents. A new study involving over 5,300 participants has developed indices for detecting long COVID symptoms, eight for school-age children and 10 for adolescents. These indices are intended to guide future research rather than act as diagnostic tools.1
Study Details
The RECOVER-Pediatrics study has identified key long-term COVID-19 symptoms in children and adolescents. Out of 5,376 participants, researchers pinpointed 18 symptoms common among school-age children and 17 in adolescents with a history of COVID-19, with 14 symptoms overlapping. The study utilized statistical methods, including the LASSO technique, to develop a "PASC research index" for the most predictive symptoms.2
The index highlights symptoms such as memory or focus issues, back or neck pain, stomach pain, headaches, specific phobias, school avoidance, itchy skin or rash, sleep disturbances, nausea or vomiting, and lightheadedness or dizziness in children. The study aimed to refine the list of symptoms to those reported by at least 5% of individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection, comparing their prevalence between those with and without prior infection.2
Main Takeaways
- Researchers from the NIH’s RECOVER Initiative have developed indices to identify long COVID symptoms in school-age children and adolescents, aiming to guide future research.
- The study finds that long COVID symptoms differ between children and adults, with adolescents showing fatigue and pain, while school-age children experience focus issues and stomach problems.
- The RECOVER Initiative is extending its research to younger children to further understand and refine the detection of long COVID symptoms.
“Many pediatric and adolescent patients with Long COVID have these symptoms, and they are really suffering,” says Melissa Stockwell, Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health and professor of pediatrics at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians. “Knowing which symptoms likely indicate that a child or teen is dealing with Long COVID will hopefully help us research how to help patients recover.”1
The study also notes a decrease in Long COVID cases among youths following the emergence of the Omicron variants in late 2021. While the research indices are still evolving and not yet intended for clinical use, they represent a significant step toward a better understanding and diagnosiing Long COVID in children and adolescents.1
The Pediatric Observational Cohort Study, part of the NIH’s RECOVER Initiative, investigates post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) in youths from birth to 25 years old. From March 2022 to March 2026, this study uses a meta-cohort approach with five distinct groups, including a new prospective cohort and an existing cohort from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The study aims to understand the prevalence, symptoms, and underlying mechanisms of PASC, as well as identify risk factors and biological processes. Data collection includes caregiver reports, direct assessments, and self-reports across over 100 sites in the US and Puerto Rico.3
The study reveals that Long COVID presents differently in children compared to adults. Symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and sensory changes were more notable in adolescents, while school-age children commonly experienced issues with focus, sleep, and stomach problems.
Researchers are now applying similar methods to develop indices for younger children, aiming to broaden the scope of Long COVID research. This effort addresses the less-studied area of pediatric long COVID and offers a structured approach to understanding its symptom patterns.
References
Researchers identify most common long COVID symptoms in children and teens. EurekAlert. August 21, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1054862
Gross RS, Thaweethai T, Rosenzweig EB, et al. Researching COVID to enhance recovery (RECOVER) pediatric study protocol: Rationale, objectives and design. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0285635. Published 2024 May 7. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285635
Gross R, Thaweethai T, Rosenzweig EB, et al. Researching COVID to enhance recovery (RECOVER) pediatric study protocol: Rationale, objectives and design. Preprint. medRxiv. 2023;2023.04.27.23289228. Published 2023 May 12. doi: 10.1101/2023.04.27.232892
