Long Covid in Children: New Findings on Duration and Symptoms

In most cases, corona disease is milder in children and adolescents than in adults.

But what about the long-term consequences?

London - to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

The sometimes fierce coronavirus debate about the well-being of the youngest remains an eternal consideration.

The contagion potential for children is high, especially in autumn, when schools in all federal states are open again.

Covid infection in younger people is usually mild or even asymptomatic, but long-term studies are still lacking.

"From my point of view, the [situation] is still clearly underestimated," said Long Covid expert Daniel Vilser from the Jena University Hospital in July for the Tagesschau.

He pointed out the possible long-term corona consequences in children.

They too could suffer from what is known as fatigue syndrome.

Karl Lauterbach also recently pointed out the dangers of the virus for the youngest.

However, there are still few concrete figures on Long Covid in children in Germany.

There are now at least those from abroad: A recent study by Kings College in London provides initial findings.

Long Covid in children: study result "reassuring" - only few long-term effects in children

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How dangerous is the coronavirus for children?

© dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd

The study was published on Tuesday in the journal "The Lancet" and observed the corona symptoms of over 1,700 school children with an app. The results give hope: 98.2 percent of those affected between the ages of five and 17 showed no more symptoms eight weeks after infection at the latest. Most of the children were healthy after just six days. Accordingly, children apparently suffer much less from corona long-term effects than adults.

"It is reassuring that the number of children with long-term Covid-19 symptoms is low," said study author Emma Duncan in a statement.

“However, a few children suffer from long-term effects of Covid-19, and our study confirms the experiences of these children and their families”.

According to the results, slightly older adolescents (12-17 years) were slightly more likely to be affected by these long-term effects than younger ones.

Flu or corona?

- Study examines symptoms and duration of illness in children

The scientists also compared the children's disease progression with those 5-17-year-olds who tested negative and who instead went through the flu or cold.

The Covid patients suffered from symptoms for about twice as long as the children with the flu or cold.

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List of rubric lists: © dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd