Thread by @loscharlos

“In the most expansive study of its kind, researchers have for the first time shown serious and prevalent symptoms of #LongCovid in kids and teens.

The study, which followed 5367 children, found that 20% of kids (ages 6-11) and 14% of teens met researchers' threshold for LC”

“By enrolling children who had been infected with acute COVID-19, as well as those who had not, researchers were able to isolate #LongCovid symptoms in kids and teens”
medscape.com/viewarticle/lo…

"It allowed us to separate symptoms related to #LongCovid with those that may have resulted from changes in a child's environment during the pandemic.

For example, learning loss & mental health changes that were caused by pandemic vs those.. symptoms associated with LC”

“Until now, research has been lacking because children were thought to be less susceptible to both acute COVID-19 and #LongCovid, experts say. But by some estimates, up to 5.8 millionkids and teens have the disorder.”

“Study author Rachel Gross, MD, an associate professor in the departments of pediatrics and population health at NYU Langone, is in line with the percentage of adults diagnosed with #LongCovid.”

“The new research found #LongCovid affected nearly every organ system in kids and teens. And experts contend that pediatricians need to be on the lookout for GI complaints in kids as well as complaints of extreme fatigue and cognitive deficits.. in teenagers.”

“Symptoms were also different for kids and teens in different age groups. While younger children had a distinct cluster of symptoms that included attention problems, GI issues, and sleep issues, teens were more likely to experience.. brain fog and extreme fatigue.” #LongCovidKids

“Small children are less likely to be able to describe cognitive and mental health issues compared with teens

For the study, parents helped younger children fill out the survey, but they were able to notice things like attention deficits or a lack of focus in their children”

“Kids also face higher risks for reinfection because.. school & are constantly exposed to the virus. This, according to experts, means that their symptoms may worsen.. An August 2023 study highlighted the increased risk for #LongCovid after.. reinfection, even [if] vaccinated.”

“Postexertional malaise, a worsening of fatigue that occurs after even minimal exertion, often precludes kids from being able to participate in sports or after-school activities…said Lael M. Yonker, MD, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.” #LongCovid

"Not only are kids not able to play the sports they once did, a lot of them have had to take weeks, months, or even whole years off from school. Other kids have had to switch to homeschooling," said Yonker. #LongCovidKids

“A stufy recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine showed that the symptoms of #LongCovid in children significantly interfered with their lives, specifically their education and social interactions, which may lead to long-term developmental challenges down the line.”

“Acknowledging that kids & teens are suffering is one thing, but we're still not doing nearly enough to help them, and the repercussions could be staggering

We're past the point of doing observational research; now it's time to study effective treatments” #LongCovid

@MVGutierrezMD @dysclinic @NohaAboelataMD @tmprowell @luckytran @NIHDirector @drclairetaylor @EricTopol @Bob_Wachter @anylaurie16 @baddestmamajama @VirusesImmunity @chrislhayes @LizHighleyman @JeromeAdamsMD @McJuggerNuggets @polybioRF @resiapretorius @choo_ek @drjudymelinek