1. Post coronavirus disease 2019 condition in children at a children's hospital in Japan.
- Author
-
Horikoshi Y, Shibata M, Funakoshi H, Baba S, and Miyama S
- Subjects
- Female, Humans, Child, SARS-CoV-2, Retrospective Studies, Japan epidemiology, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Dysgeusia, Hospitals, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with chronic symptoms. These have been termed the "post COVID-19 condition." The data on this condition in children are still limited. We therefore aimed to elucidate the characteristics of this post COVID-19 condition., Methods: Children referred to a long COVID-19 clinic were included at Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center between October 2021 and July 2022. Children with another diagnosis and those who failed to meet criteria for post COVID-19 condition were excluded. Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively., Results: Of 33 referrals, nine were excluded, and 24 fulfilled the criteria for post COVID-19 condition. The median age and percentage of girls were 12.5 (IQR: 11-13) years and 29.2%, respectively. All the patients had mild, acute COVID-19. Dysgeusia and brain fog was observed more frequently during the Delta and Omicron variant periods, respectively. School absenteeism >4 weeks was observed in 41.6% of the patients. Common symptoms included malaise, headache, dysgeusia, and dysosmia. The median duration of post COVID-19 condition was 4.5 (IQR: 2.8-5.2) months. Pain management and counseling using the pacing approach were the most commonly offered treatments. Symptom resolution and improvement was observed in 29.2% and 54.2% of the patients, respectively., Conclusions: One third of the patients referred for long COVID did not fit the definition of the post COVID-19 condition. After a median follow up of 4.5 months, the majority of the cases resolved or improved., (© 2023 Japan Pediatric Society.)
- Published
- 2023
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