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. 2021 Oct;17(5):495-499.
doi: 10.1007/s12519-021-00457-6. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Long COVID in children and adolescents

Ali A Asadi-Pooya  1   2 , Hamid Nemati  3 , Mina Shahisavandi  3 , Ali Akbari  4 , Amir Emami  5 , Mehrzad Lotfi  6 , Mahtab Rostamihosseinkhani  3 , Zohreh Barzegar  3 , Maryam Kabiri  3 , Zahra Zeraatpisheh  3 , Mohsen Farjoud-Kouhanjani  3 , Anahita Jafari  3 , Fateme Sasannia  3 , Shayan Ashrafi  3 , Masoume Nazeri  3 , Sara Nasiri  3
Affiliations

Long COVID in children and adolescents

Ali A Asadi-Pooya et al. World J Pediatr. 2021 Oct.

Erratum in

  • Correction to: Long COVID in children and adolescents.
    Asadi-Pooya AA, Nemati H, Shahisavandi M, Akbari A, Emami A, Lotfi M, Rostamihosseinkhani M, Barzegar Z, Kabiri M, Zeraatpisheh Z, Farjoud-Kouhanjani M, Jafari A, Sasannia S, Ashrafi S, Nazeri M, Nasiri S. Asadi-Pooya AA, et al. World J Pediatr. 2022 Jul 3. doi: 10.1007/s12519-022-00588-4. Online ahead of print. World J Pediatr. 2022. PMID: 35781635 No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: To identify the prevalence and also the full spectrum of symptoms/complaints of children and adolescents who are suffering from long COVID. Furthermore, we investigated the risk factors of long COVID in children and adolescents.

Methods: All consecutive children and adolescents who were referred to the hospitals anywhere in Fars province, Iran, from 19 February 2020 until 20 November 2020 were included. All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. In a phone call to patients/parents, at least 3 months after their discharge from the hospital, we obtained their current status and information if their parents agreed to participate.

Results: In total, 58 children and adolescents fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-six (44·8%) children/adolescents reported symptoms/complaints of long COVID. These symptoms included fatigue in 12 (21%), shortness of breath in 7 (12%), exercise intolerance in 7 (12%), weakness in 6 (10%), and walking intolerance in 5 (9%) individuals. Older age, muscle pain on admission, and intensive care unit admission were significantly associated with long COVID.

Conclusions: Long COVID is a frequent condition in children and adolescents. The scientific community should investigate and explore the pathophysiology of long COVID to ensure that these patients receive appropriate treatments for their condition.

Keywords: Adolescents; COVID-19; Children; Chronic; Coronavirus; Pediatrics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ali A. Asadi-Pooya: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo, RaymandRad and Tekaje; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication). Other authors declared no conflict of interest.

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