Pediatric long‐COVID: An overlooked phenomenon?. Issue 8 (8th June 2021) - Brackel, Caroline L. H.
Abstract: Background: Long‐COVID is a well‐documented multisystem disease in adults. Far less is known about long‐term sequelae of COVID in children. Here, we report on the occurrence of long‐COVID in Dutch children. Patients and Methods: We conducted a national survey asking Dutch pediatricians to share their experiences on long‐COVID in children. We furthermore describe a case series of six children with long‐COVID to explore the clinical features in greater detail. Results: With a response rate of 78% of Dutch pediatric departments, we identified 89 children, aged 2–18 years, suspected of long‐COVID with various complaints. Of these children, 36% experienced severe limitations in daily function. The most common complaints were fatigue, dyspnea, and concentration difficulties with 87%, 55%, and 45% respectively. Our case series emphasizes the nonspecific and broad clinical manifestations seen in post‐COVID complaints. Conclusion: Our study shows that long‐COVID is also present in the pediatric population. The main symptoms resemble those previously described in adults. This novel condition demands a multidisciplinary approach with international awareness and consensus to aid early detection and effective management.