Long COVID, a lingering effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection, affects millions of people worldwide, including thousands of children. While COVID-19 is no longer considered a federal Public Health Emergency, it remains a public health concern.
Children who have had mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 can still experience persistent symptoms months or years later, such as brain fog and gastrointestinal problems. These symptoms can hinder school attendance, sports participation, and social activities, with some children becoming debilitated.
Research is crucial to understanding long COVID in children, but existing adult studies may not be directly applicable to younger populations. The National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER initiative supports research into long COVID, which has found that adolescents are affected differently than school-age children, requiring tailored screening tools and treatments.
A rare post-infection complication called MIS-C, characterized by inflammation of one or more organs, is also a concern. The PreVAIL kIds initiative aims to rapidly diagnose and characterize MIS-C associated with SARS-CoV-2, as well as understand the spectrum of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 illness and predict long-term complications.
Research has shown that changes in MIS-C symptoms occurred as SARS-CoV-2 evolved during the pandemic. While serious complications from MIS-C decreased from 2020 to 2022, they remained significant. However, most children with MIS-C recover with medical care, highlighting the need for accurate and quick detection strategies.
Scientists have made major strides toward developing diagnostics for MIS-C, including identifying a five-gene signature that distinguishes it from bacterial infections and viral conditions. Additionally, research is uncovering potential protein biomarkers for MIS-C in saliva or blood serum, as well as insights into its causes, which may result from an immune system attack on one of the body’s own proteins.
To optimize treatment of pediatric COVID-19 and its complications, understanding the unique needs of children is essential. Ongoing research will help determine how to effectively identify and address long-term effects in this vulnerable population.
Source: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/od/directors_corner/expanding-knowledge-pediatric-long-COVID-MIS-C