Long COVID Symptoms Vary by Age in Children and Teens, NIH Study Finds

A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed that long COVID affects adolescents differently than younger children. The study, part of the NIH’s Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, involved 3,860 children and adolescents aged 6-17 with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection across more than 60 sites in the United States between March 2022 and December 2023. The research identified 18 prolonged symptoms that were more common in school-age children, including headache, trouble with memory or focusing, trouble sleeping, and stomach pain.

The study found that adolescents were more likely to experience low energy and tiredness, while younger children were more likely to report headaches. The researchers also noted that both age groups experienced symptoms affecting multiple organ systems. The findings suggest that a better understanding of how long COVID presents in different age groups could aid in diagnosis and treatment. The study has led to the development of research indices that could help identify children and adolescents with a high likelihood of having long COVID, providing a potential tool for future diagnostic efforts.