Thread by @loscharlos

“The research coming out is not quite breaking through,” she said. “But you have to see the problem to solve the problem.”

‘From what I can tell, no one is explaining the risk of #LongCovid,’ which may now be the top chronic illness in children”

“The American Academy of Pediatrics and the @NIH estimate long COVID may have affected up to 5.8 million children, since research says between 1 in 10 to 1 in 5 of the children who recover from COVID later develop #LongCovid.” deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH “Dr. Jeanette Brown.. and.. Dr. Alexandra Brugler Yonts… encounter #LongCovid daily in their professional lives. What does surprise them is the notion kids can’t get long COVID. They see it regularly… which Yonts calls ‘devastating.’”
deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH “Yonts said that while the number of COVID infections overall has dropped, it’s not clear if the share getting #LongCovid also changed, though it’s obvious many struggle.. around 60% of pediatric LC sufferers recover within about a year, leaving 30-40% who keep struggling”

@NIH “Yonts calls symptoms terrible & refutes idea healthy kids can’t get it. Among pediatric COVID cases in ICU.. 1/2 had no prior condition. Many were ‘happy, healthy straight-A students, multisport athletes who were never sick a day. Data doesn’t show healthy kids don’t get it.’”

@NIH “Wyatt, 14, used to happily play at the skate park all day. He had mild COVID-19 symptoms, too. #LongCovid hurts his joints; he feels like there are little shards of glass in them when he walks around — a sensation his mom also endures.”deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH “@RobertKennedyJr sees #LongCovid toll. In testimony before Congress in May, reported by The Washington Post and others, he said one of his sons is ‘dramatically affected by long COVID.’ Kennedy emphasized his commitment to ensuring LC research continues.” deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH @RobertKennedyJr “Zeke Smith’s family was among those visiting congressional offices. Now 11, he’s had #LongCovid for three years with no end in sight.. He now homeschools to take advantage of moments when he feels well enough to learn. His COVID was mild; its aftermath has been debilitating.”

@NIH @RobertKennedyJr “He was so tired the day they visited lawmakers’ offices that he could barely speak. He sat quietly, his mom telling his story. The visits went so well, the group was invited to talk to more congressional offices in September.” #LongCovid deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH @RobertKennedyJr “Bills introduced in 2023 and 2024 went nowhere, but she thinks legislation is needed — a message they took to Congress.” #LongCovid deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…

@NIH @RobertKennedyJr “There’s also a stigma attached.. driven by politics and misinformation.”

‘Speaking publicly about a child’s #Long can invite harassment, bullying and denial. Until the cost of telling the truth is no longer paid by children and their families, most will remain silent”

@NIH @RobertKennedyJr “Dealing with this as an adult is hard,” Maughan said. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for a child.” #LongCovid deseret.com/lifestyle/2025…