The Challenge of Studying Long COVID: An Updated Review

doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003502

. 2022 May 1;41(5):424-426.

doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003502.

The Challenge of Studying Long COVID: An Updated Review

Petra Zimmermann^{1

2

3

4}, Laure F Pittet^{3

4

5}, Nigel Curtis^{3

4

6}

Affiliations

¹ From the Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg.
² Department of Paediatrics, Fribourg Hospital HFR, Fribourg, Switzerland.
³ Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne.
⁴ Infectious Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.
⁵ Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁶ Infectious Diseases Unit, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.

PMID: 35213866
PMCID: PMC8997013
DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003502

The Challenge of Studying Long COVID: An Updated Review

Petra Zimmermann et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2022.

. 2022 May 1;41(5):424-426.

doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003502.

Authors

Petra Zimmermann^{1

2

3

4}, Laure F Pittet^{3

4

5}, Nigel Curtis^{3

4

6}

Affiliations

¹ From the Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg.
² Department of Paediatrics, Fribourg Hospital HFR, Fribourg, Switzerland.
³ Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne.
⁴ Infectious Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.
⁵ Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁶ Infectious Diseases Unit, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.

PMID: 35213866
PMCID: PMC8997013
DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003502

Abstract

Accurately determining the risk of long COVID is challenging. Existing studies in children and adolescents have considerable limitations and distinguishing long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated symptoms from pandemic-related symptoms is difficult. Over half of individuals in this age group, irrespective of COVID-19, report physical and psychologic symptoms, highlighting the impact of the pandemic. More robust data is needed to inform policy decisions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

**FIGURE 1.**
Prevalence of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 in children and adolescents and in non-COVID-19 controls.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

Balancing the medical and social needs of children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hyde Z. Hyde Z. Med J Aust. 2023 Feb 20;218(3):140. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51808. Epub 2022 Dec 5. Med J Aust. 2023. PMID: 36471917 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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References

1. Zimmermann P, Curtis N. Coronavirus infections in children including COVID-19: an overview of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention options in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020;39:355–368. - PMC - PubMed
1. Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. Long covid in children and adolescents. BMJ. 2022;376:o143. - PubMed
1. Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. How common is long COVID in children and adolescents? Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40:e482–e487. - PMC - PubMed
1. Behnood SA, Shafran R, Bennett SD, et al. . Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and young people: a meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled studies [published online ahead of print November 24, 2021]. J Infect 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.011 - PMC - PubMed
1. Borch L, Holm M, Knudsen M, et al. . Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children - a nationwide cohort study [published online ahead of print October 01, 2022]. Eur J Pediatr 2022:1–11. doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04345-z - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Zimmermann P, Curtis N. Coronavirus infections in children including COVID-19: an overview of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention options in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020;39:355–368. - PMC - PubMed

[2] Zimmermann P, Curtis N. Coronavirus infections in children including COVID-19: an overview of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention options in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020;39:355–368. - PMC - PubMed

[3] Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. Long covid in children and adolescents. BMJ. 2022;376:o143. - PubMed

[4] Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. Long covid in children and adolescents. BMJ. 2022;376:o143. - PubMed

[5] Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. How common is long COVID in children and adolescents? Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40:e482–e487. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Curtis N. How common is long COVID in children and adolescents? Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40:e482–e487. - PMC - PubMed

[7] Behnood SA, Shafran R, Bennett SD, et al. . Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and young people: a meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled studies [published online ahead of print November 24, 2021]. J Infect 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.011 - PMC - PubMed

[8] Behnood SA, Shafran R, Bennett SD, et al. . Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and young people: a meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled studies [published online ahead of print November 24, 2021]. J Infect 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.011 - PMC - PubMed

[9] Borch L, Holm M, Knudsen M, et al. . Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children - a nationwide cohort study [published online ahead of print October 01, 2022]. Eur J Pediatr 2022:1–11. doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04345-z - PMC - PubMed

[10] Borch L, Holm M, Knudsen M, et al. . Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children - a nationwide cohort study [published online ahead of print October 01, 2022]. Eur J Pediatr 2022:1–11. doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04345-z - PMC - PubMed

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The Challenge of Studying Long COVID: An Updated Review

Affiliations

The Challenge of Studying Long COVID: An Updated Review

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Comment in

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