tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Neurol
. 2022 Aug 17;13:925144.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.925144. eCollection 2022.
Neurological and psychological effects of long COVID in a young population: A cross-sectional study
Cristiana Alessia Guido[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Fabio Lucidi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Fabio Midulla[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anna Maria Zicari[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Elena Bove[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Federica Avenoso[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ilaria Amedeo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Enrica Mancino[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Raffaella Nenna[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giovanna De Castro[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Martina Capponi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bianca Laura Cinicola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giulia Brindisi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Flavia Grisoni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manuel Murciano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Spalice[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Long-Covid Group of Department of Maternal Sciences
Affiliations
Abstract
Aim: We evaluated the long-term clinical status of pediatric patients after testing positive for COVID-19. We hypothesized that there are similar symptoms to those that have been described in adults and children and that pediatric patients with neurophysiologic symptoms still present 3-5 months after infection have psychological consequences that interfere with their adaptive functioning.
Method: We recruited 322 COVID-19-positive pediatric patients, between 1.5 and 17 years old, from the outpatient clinic for COVID-19 follow-up. Neurological symptoms were analyzed at onset, after 1 month, and after 3-5 months. A psychological assessment with standardized questionnaires was also conducted to determine the impact of the disease.
Results: At the onset of COVID-19, 60% of the total sample exhibited symptoms; this decreased after 1 month (20%) but stabilized 3-5 months after disease onset (22%). Prevailing long-COVID neurological symptoms were headache, fatigue, and anosmia. In the 1.5-5-year-old subgroup, internalizing problems emerged in 12% of patients. In the 6-18-year-old subgroup, anxiety and post-traumatic stress showed significant associations with neurological symptoms of long COVID.
Conclusions: These data demonstrate that long COVID presents various broad-spectrum symptoms, including psychological and long-lasting cognitive issues. If not treated, these symptoms could significantly compromise the quality of life of children and adolescents.
Keywords: CNS (central nervous system); COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019); SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2); adolescents; children; long-COVID syndrome; pediatrics; psychological effects.
. 2022 Aug 17;13:925144.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.925144. eCollection 2022.
Neurological and psychological effects of long COVID in a young population: A cross-sectional study
Cristiana Alessia Guido[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Fabio Lucidi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Fabio Midulla[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anna Maria Zicari[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Elena Bove[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Federica Avenoso[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ilaria Amedeo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Enrica Mancino[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Raffaella Nenna[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giovanna De Castro[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Martina Capponi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bianca Laura Cinicola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giulia Brindisi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Flavia Grisoni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manuel Murciano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberto Spalice[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Long-Covid Group of Department of Maternal Sciences
Affiliations
- PMID: 36062008
- PMCID: PMC9428748
- DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.925144
Abstract
Aim: We evaluated the long-term clinical status of pediatric patients after testing positive for COVID-19. We hypothesized that there are similar symptoms to those that have been described in adults and children and that pediatric patients with neurophysiologic symptoms still present 3-5 months after infection have psychological consequences that interfere with their adaptive functioning.
Method: We recruited 322 COVID-19-positive pediatric patients, between 1.5 and 17 years old, from the outpatient clinic for COVID-19 follow-up. Neurological symptoms were analyzed at onset, after 1 month, and after 3-5 months. A psychological assessment with standardized questionnaires was also conducted to determine the impact of the disease.
Results: At the onset of COVID-19, 60% of the total sample exhibited symptoms; this decreased after 1 month (20%) but stabilized 3-5 months after disease onset (22%). Prevailing long-COVID neurological symptoms were headache, fatigue, and anosmia. In the 1.5-5-year-old subgroup, internalizing problems emerged in 12% of patients. In the 6-18-year-old subgroup, anxiety and post-traumatic stress showed significant associations with neurological symptoms of long COVID.
Conclusions: These data demonstrate that long COVID presents various broad-spectrum symptoms, including psychological and long-lasting cognitive issues. If not treated, these symptoms could significantly compromise the quality of life of children and adolescents.
Keywords: CNS (central nervous system); COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019); SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2); adolescents; children; long-COVID syndrome; pediatrics; psychological effects.