What is Long COVID?
Studies suggest that conservatively, one in three individuals who contract COVID-19 are likely to experience lingering symptoms or to develop new symptoms 28 days or longer after the initial onset of disease. This lingering condition is often referred to as Long COVID, PASC (Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2) or Post COVID Syndrome. Long COVID symptoms can vary in intensity, type and duration depending on the individual. Click here to read a more extensive list of FAQs about Long COVID.
What symptoms are experienced by someone with Long COVID?
Long COVID symptoms can involve various organ systems and the severity of symptoms can vary widely. Some common symptoms include fatigue, post-exertional malaise, hair loss, chronic pain, brain fog, neurological tremors, depression, anxiety, cardiac impairment, pulmonary impairment, and altered sense of taste or smell.
A symptom checklist is available on the Survivor Corps website.
In summer 2020, Survivor Corps published the first study on patient-reported experiences with COVID-19 recovery and post-COVID complications, documenting a multitude of physical and mental health symptoms. These findings have been confirmed by other long COVID studies and documented by physicians.
In December 2020, the NIH held their first conference on Long COVID, followed by discussions at the World Health Organization and other medical societies.
The CDC has created a Post-COVID Conditions webpage [last updated September 16th, 2021].
Mayo Clinic maintains an informational page on the long-term effects of COVID-19 [last updated October 22nd, 2021].
Johns Hopkins provides updated long COVID information on on their website [last updated December 8th, 2021].
Can children get Long COVID?
Yes, children can develop long term symptoms after acute, mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID.
What symptoms do children experience?
Children may experience the same wealth of symptoms that adults experience including physical and mental conditions. A symptom checklist is available on our website. For more information about symptoms experienced by children with Long COVID visit: Long COVID Kids.
Where can I find more information about Long COVID in children?
Provided is a collection of research trials and press reports that provide additional information on long COVID in children (last updated February 2022):
Long COVID in children and adolescents (January 20, 2022)
Long COVID in children (January 1st, 2022)
As more kids go down the ‘deep, dark tunnel’ of long COVID, doctors still can’t predict who is at risk (June 10, 2021)
Legacy of COVID-19 Infection in Children: Long-COVID Will Have a Lifelong Health/Economic Impact (May 27, 2021)
A Retrospective Cohort Study of 12,306 Pediatric COVID-19 Patients in the United States (May 13th, 2021)
Post-acute COVID-19 Outcomes in Children with Mild and Asymptomatic Disease (April 20, 2021)
Preliminary Evidence on Long COVID in Children (April 9, 2021)
Clinical Characteristics, Activity Levels and Mental Health Problems in Children with Long COVID: A Survey of 510 Children (March 9, 2021)
Children with Long COVID (February 27, 2021)
Characteristics and Outcomes of US Children and Adolescents With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Compared With Severe Acute COVID-19 (February 24, 2021)
Are there centers dedicated to pediatric Long COVID recovery?
Some Post-COVID Care Centers have been created specifically to treat children and adolescents suffering from Long COVID. Please see our spreadsheet of pediatric Post-COVID Care Centers and our webpage for designated national / international PCCCs for more information.
