Background

There is increasing evidence that adult patients diagnosed with acute COVID-19 suffer from persisting symptoms (defined as Long Covid). To date, there is no data about Long Covid in children. We assessed persistent symptoms in pediatric patients with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19.

Methods

We did an ambidirectional cohort study of children diagnosed with microbiologically-confirmed COVID-19 in our Institution between March and November, 2020. All caregiver’s were interviewed about their child’s health with a questionnaire developed by an international panel of experts of the Long Covid ISARIC study group, for evaluation of persisting symptoms. Children aged 12 years or more were actively involved in the interview with their caregivers. Participants were categorised into groups according to severity of COVID-19 (symptomatic/asymptomatic and hospitalized/not-hospitalized) and length of follow-up (<60, 60-120, > 120 days).

Results

129 children were enrolled (mean age 11 years, 48.1% female), assessed a mean of 162.5 (SD, 113.7) days after COVID-19 diagnosis. 41.8% completely recovered, 35.7% had 1 or 2 symptoms and 22.5% had 3 or more. 52.7% had at least one symptom 120 days or more after diagnosis.

Fatigue, nasal congestion, muscle and joint pain, respiratory symptoms, palpitations, sleep/concentration problems, weight loss and skin rashes were the most frequently reported symptoms. Symptoms were described also in asymptomatics. 42.6% children assessed > 120 days from diagnosis were still distressed by these symptoms.

Conclusions

This study provides the first providing evidence of Long Covid in children, half of them reporting at least one symptom more than 120 days after COVID-19, 42.6% of them being impaired by these symptoms during daily activities.