Children and adolescents are less likely to experience persistent COVID-19 symptoms than adults, according to a study published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Sarah E. Messiah, PhD, MPH, and colleagues examined the presence of persistent COVID-19 symptoms in children by SARS-CoV-2 antibody status. Of the total sample (N=1,813), 4.5% reported persistent COVID-19 symptoms, with 8.0% infected prior to the delta variant and 3.4% infected during the delta period and beyond. Compared with adults, pediatric age groups had a lower risk for persistent COVID-19 symptoms regardless of length of symptoms reported. Severe symptoms with initial infection, not being vaccinated, and having an unhealthy weight (BMI, ≥85th percentile for age and sex) were associated with an increased risk for persistent COVID-19 symptoms greater than 12 weeks. “I encourage parents to still take caution and get their child vaccinated against COVID-19, because we now know that it will decrease the risk for infection and long COVID,” Dr. Messiah said in a statement.
