We've been talking about post covid brain fog and we haven't specifically mentioned children, children are immunocompromised. The effects of this virus sometimes last beyond the initial infection. Here's what to look out for and how to protect your child from long-distance COVID. While much attention has been paid to long-term COVID-19 in adults, many parents are unaware that the condition can also affect younger patients.
Since the pandemic began, nearly 15 million children have tested positive for COVID-19, said Amy Edwards, MD, medical director of UH's Pediatric COVID Recovery Clinic. Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. "This means potentially hundreds of thousands of children with long-term COVID. Here's what parents need to know about the long-term effects of COVID, including why some kids get it and the symptoms to look out for.
What is long COVID?
Most people who get COVID-19—both adults and children—fully recover within three to four weeks. But sometimes, even after testing negative for the virus, patients experience other symptoms. This is called a long COVID or post COVID condition.
Because post covid brain fog is a new condition, doctors still don't know much about it. They're also trying to understand why some kids who get COVID-19 recover quickly, while others go on to develop long-term COVID that can last for months or even longer.
One theory behind long-term COVID is that COVID itself causes an autoimmune response, sending the body into overdrive and attacking itself. The other is that there are virus residues in the body.
Long COVID is also different from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare inflammatory condition that affects some children two to six weeks after initial infection with COVID-19.
Long COVID symptoms in children
Gastrointestinal symptoms, including loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea and nausea, affect up to 70% to 80% of children with prolonged COVID. She noted that this is similar to what doctors are seeing in MIS-C, likely due to the persistence of COVID-19 virus in the digestive tract.
Excessive fatigue, known as post-exertion malaise, can cause a child to break down if they push themselves too hard, either physically or emotionally. Common symptoms also vary by age. Infants and toddlers mainly experienced mood swings, rashes and stomach pains, while older children experienced memory and concentration problems as well as mood swings and fatigue, the study found.
These post covid brain symptoms may still be present in younger children who cannot express themselves verbally. That's why it's important to look for more subtle cues, such as your child's frustration with activities they usually enjoy, like building blocks. Diagnosing Long COVID in children can be challenging because some people may be asymptomatic when infected with the virus and never be diagnosed. Doctors sometimes have to take a closer look at a child's family history to see if there are any known exposures to the virus.
Antibody tests can also indicate past infection with COVID. There are tests that can distinguish antibodies from the COVID-19 vaccine from those from actual exposure to the virus. If you suspect long-term COVID, it is best to have your child evaluated at a long-term COVID clinic, as they can perform various tests to rule out other medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
Why do some kids get COVID?
There is no pattern or reason why some children develop COVID and others do not. Nearly 6 percent of children presenting to emergency rooms with COVID-19 reported symptoms of long-term COVID after about three months, the researchers found.
Whether adults or children are infected with COVID-19, there is a chance of suffering from long covid brain fog. Therefore, we should have a clearer understanding of long covid brain fog. On LongCovidCareCenter, How To Get Rid Of Long Covid-19 Brain Fog? mentions many methods of long covid brain fog treatment. You can check out more literature here for a deeper understanding. Consult post covid brain fog treatment online for effective help.
