New Delhi: The risk of long COVID in children appears to be lower than what has been reported in adults, according to a study conducted in the US. Some people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can experience long-term effects from their infection which can last for months. The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that many of the symptoms children experience post-COVID-19 are similar to those seen in adults, but there are some features more unique to kids, such as hair loss, skin rashes and diarrhea.
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The risk for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID appears to be higher in children younger than five years of age, those with medical complexity and those admitted to the intensive care unit, the researchers said.
Infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, US, Suchitra Rao said,
There has been a critical need to understand the impact of COVID-19 in children both in the short as well as long-term. This is one of the biggest studies we know of to explore what the post-acute sequelae look like in kids
The study used electronic health record data of 659,286 children tested for SARS-CoV-2 and compared children who tested positive with those who tested negative.
The analysis used data of children and people younger than 21 years of age who underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 between March 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021.
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The researchers identified conditions, symptoms and medications associated with PASC in the one to six months following testing.
Out of 660,000 children who underwent testing, 9 per cent were positive and most were tested as outpatients, they said.
The study found that symptoms most strongly associated with infection included changes in loss of smell and taste, hair loss, chest pain, abnormal liver enzymes, skin rashes, fever and chills, fatigue and malaise.
Conditions most strongly associated with infection included myocarditis, acute respiratory distress and myositis, the researchers said.
There was also a higher association with mental health treatment among children who tested positive for PASC compared with those who tested negative, they said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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