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ZusammenfassungDas vorliegende Konsensuspapier bietet in Ergänzung zur AWMF-S1-Leitlinie eine Übersicht über die verschiedenen klinischen Aspekte von Long COVID im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Es wurde von Vertreter:innen aus 19 Fachgesellschaften des DGKJ-Konvents und kooperierenden Fachgesellschaften erstellt und bietet Expertenempfehlungen für die Praxis auf Grundlage der bisherigen, noch geringen studienbasierten Evidenz zu Long COVID im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Es enthält Screeningfragen zu Long COVID sowie einen Vorschlag zur strukturierten, standardisierten pädiatrischen Anamnese und zur diagnostischen Evaluation bei V. a. Long COVID. Dazu werden ein zeit- und ressourcensparender Erfassungsbogen, der die Komplexität des Krankheitsbildes berücksichtigt, über die Internetseiten der DGKJ und DGPI zur Verfügung gestellt und weitere Fragebögen zur Abklärung von spezifischen neurokognitiven und/oder psychischen Störungen sowie post-exertioneller Malaise (PEM) und myalgischer Enzephalomyelitis/chronischem Fatigue-Syndrom (ME/CFS) benannt. Anhand der jeweiligen anamnestisch und klinisch ermittelten Hauptsymptome werden ein gestuftes, diagnostisches Vorgehen und eine multidisziplinäre Betreuung empfohlen.

Zusammenfassung. Mit der COVID-19-Pandemie ergeben sich nach aktuellem Wissensstand vermutlich weniger prävalent somatische als vielmehr psychische Folgeerkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Diese sind jedoch umso alarmierender, da sie auf ein schon vor der Pandemie stark belastetes System treffen. Auch zu beachten sind die bislang unklaren Folgen für die allgemeine psychische, soziale und emotionale Entwicklung, da beispielsweise Lernräume mit Gleichaltrigen langfristig fehlten oder nur eingeschränkt zugänglich waren. Mit der Betrachtung von Kindern und Jugendlichen selbst ist auch das nähere Bezugssystem von Eltern und Familie relevant, um dort Schutz- und Risikofaktoren zu identifizieren. In der Gesamtschau des aktuellen Themenschwerpunkts wie auch weiterer Studien ergibt sich die Notwendigkeit, Prävention und Frühintervention auszubauen und den Zugang zum Gesundheitssystem für betroffene Kinder, Jugendliche und Familien zu verbessern.

BackgroundAvailable data on aerosol emissions among children and adolescents during spontaneous breathing are limited. Our aim was to gain insight into the role of children in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and whether aerosol measurements among children can be used to help detect so-called superspreaders—infected individuals with extremely high numbers of exhaled aerosol particles.MethodsIn this prospective study, the aerosol concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative children and adolescents (2–17 years) were investigated. All subjects were asked about their current health status and medical history. The exhaled aerosol particle counts of PCR-negative and PCR-positive subjects were measured using the Resp-Aer-Meter (Palas GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany) and compared using linear regression.ResultsA total of 250 children and adolescents were included in this study, 105 of whom were SARS-CoV-2 positive and 145 of whom were SARS-CoV-2 negative. The median age in both groups was 9 years (IQR 7–11 years). A total of 124 (49.6%) participants were female, and 126 (50.4%) participants were male. A total of 81.9% of the SARS-CoV-2-positive group had symptoms of viral infection. The median particle count of all individuals was 79.55 particles/liter (IQR 44.55–141.15). There was a tendency for older children to exhale more particles (1–5 years: 79.54 p/L; 6–11 years: 77.96 p/L; 12–17 years: 98.63 p/L). SARS-CoV-2 PCR status was not a bivariate predictor (t = 0.82, p = 0.415) of exhaled aerosol particle count; however, SARS-CoV-2 status was shown to be a significant predictor in a multiple regression model together with age, body mass index (BMI), COVID-19 vaccination, and past SARS-CoV-2 infection (t = 2.81, p = 0.005). COVID-19 vaccination status was a highly significant predictor of exhaled aerosol particles (p ConclusionDuring SARS-CoV-2 infection, children and adolescents did not have elevated aerosol levels. In addition, no superspreaders were found.

Studies in recent years and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown a significant increase in the problematic use of computer games and social media. Adolescents having difficulties in regulating their unpleasant emotions are especially prone to Problematic Internet Use (PIU), which is why emotion dysregulation has been considered a risk factor for PIU. The aim of the present study was to assess problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents after the third wave (nearly 1.5 years after the onset in Europe) of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students 12 years and older from secondary-level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination in August 2021 with an approved vaccine against COVID-19. In this context, the participants filled out the Short Compulsive Internet Use Scale (SCIUS) and two additional items to capture a possible change in digital media usage time and regulation of negative affect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of PIU. The original sample consisted of 1477 participants, and after excluding invalid cases the final sample size amounted to 1268 adolescents aged 12–17 (x = 14.37 years, SD = 1.64). The average prevalence of PIU was 43.69%. Gender, age, digital media usage time and the intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were all found to be significant predictors of PIU: female gender, increasing age, longer digital media usage time and higher intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher SCIUS total scores. This study found a very high prevalence of PIU among 12- to 17-year-olds for the period after the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic prevalence rates. PIU is emerging as a serious problem among young people in the pandemic. Besides gender and age, pandemic-associated time of digital media use and emotion regulation have an impact on PIU, which provides starting points for preventive interventions.

BackgroundPersistent respiratory symptoms after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults are frequent, and there can be long-term impairment of pulmonary function. To date, only preliminary evidence is available on persistent respiratory sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents. Our objective was to examine the long-term effects of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections on pulmonary function in this age group in a single-center, controlled, prospective study.MethodsParticipants with serological or polymerase chain reaction-based evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited from a population-based study of seroconversion rates. Multiple-breath washout (MBW), body plethysmography, and diffusion capacity testing were performed for children and adolescents. Participants were interviewed about their symptoms during the acute phase of infection and long-lasting symptoms. Cases were compared with SARS-CoV-2 seronegative controls from the same population-based study with and without history of respiratory infection within 6 months prior to assessment. Primary endpoints were differences in pulmonary function, including diffusion capacity and MBW, between participants with and without evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Secondary endpoints included correlation between lung function and long-lasting symptoms as well as disease severity.FindingsIn total, 73 seropositive children and adolescents (5–18 years) were recruited after an average of 2.6 months (range 0.4–6.0) following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 19 patients (27.1%) who complained of persistent or newly emerged symptoms since SARS-CoV-2, 8 (11.4%) reported respiratory symptoms. No significant differences were detected in frequency of abnormal pulmonary function when comparing cases with 45 controls, including 14 (31.1%) with a history of previous infection (SARS-CoV-2: 12, 16.4%; controls: 12, 27.7%; odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.22–1.34). Only two patients with persistent respiratory symptoms showed abnormal pulmonary function. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced forced vital capacity (p = 0.012) in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.InterpretationPulmonary function is rarely impaired in children and adolescents after SARS-CoV-2 infection, except from those with severe infection, and did not differ between SARS-CoV-2 and other previous infections, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 is not more likely to cause pulmonary sequelae than other infections. The discrepancy between persisting respiratory symptoms and normal pulmonary function suggests a different underlying pathology such as dysfunctional breathing.

Background: From March – June 2021, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in Germany. First and second wave evaluations showed an increase in mental health problems and a reduction of quality of life in adolescents. In August 2021, two vaccines against COVID-19 were approved for adolescents aged 12-17 years in Germany. Aim of the study was to assess mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after 1.5 years of COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents who decided to receive a vaccination. Methods: In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students from 12-17 years from secondary level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination against COVID-19. Mental health and HRQoL were assessed at the first vaccination appointment by self- and parental report. Adolescents and their parents completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the KIDSCREEN-10. Results: Data from 1412 adolescents (49.2% female, 47.7% male; mean age 14.3 years, SD=1.64) and 908 parents were collected. Mean self-reported HRQoL was T=53.7 (SD=11.2), in boys significantly higher than in girls (56.0 vs. 51.3), and significantly higher in younger (12-14 years) than in older (15-17 years) adolescents (56.2 vs. 51.5). Parental-reported HRQoL was T=51.8 (SD=12.8). In total, 18.5% of adolescents reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms, especially peer problems (23.7%), emotional problems (16.7%) and hyperactivity (17.2%). Girls reported significantly higher scores on emotional, peer and total problems than boys, whereas younger adolescents reported more hyperactivity and less emotional and peer problems than older ones. Comparing the present data to evaluations after the first and second wave of COVID-19 in Germany, adolescents facing vaccination after the third wave rated a higher HRQoL and reported less mental health problems. The data from the present study are comparable to those from pre-COVID evaluations. Conclusion: After 1.5 years of living with the pandemic, adolescents may have adapted to the changes in everyday life which has lowered the anticipated stress. Further, the relaxation of restrictions, better school organization and the prospect of the vaccination may have increased optimism, wellbeing and contentment, leading to declining but still alarming rates of psychological symptoms.

In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, wearing a face mask is mandatory again during school lessons. There are no controlled studies in children to date indicating an effect on cognitive performance from wearing face masks. In a randomized controlled trial, we analysed the influence of face masks on cognitive performance of pupils during regular school lessons. Pupils (n = 133, fifth to seventh grade) were randomized by alternating allocation into control (with masks, n = 65) and intervention groups (without mask, n = 68). After two school lessons with (control) and without (intervention) face masks in class, all pupils performed digital tests for cognitive performance regarding attention and executive functions (switch, Corsi block-tapping, 2-back and flanker task). Overall, there were no significant differences in cognitive performance between both groups, masks vs. no masks. Wearing face masks has no significant influence on attention and executive functions of pupils and can still be recommended during school lessons.

Background To date, few data on paediatric COVID-19 have been published, and most reports originate from China. This study aimed to capture key data on children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection across Europe to inform physicians and health-care service planning during the ongoing pandemic. Methods This multicentre cohort study involved 82 participating health-care institutions across 25 European countries, using a well established research network—the Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet)—that mainly comprises paediatric infectious diseases specialists and paediatric pulmonologists. We included all individuals aged 18 years or younger with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, detected at any anatomical site by RT-PCR, between April 1 and April 24, 2020, during the initial peak of the European COVID-19 pandemic. We explored factors associated with need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and initiation of drug treatment for COVID-19 using univariable analysis, and applied multivariable logistic regression with backwards stepwise analysis to further explore those factors significantly associated with ICU admission. Findings 582 individuals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, with a median age of 5·0 years (IQR 0·5–12·0) and a sex ratio of 1·15 males per female. 145 (25%) had pre-existing medical conditions. 363 (62%) individuals were admitted to hospital. 48 (8%) individuals required ICU admission, 25 (4%) mechanical ventilation (median duration 7 days, IQR 2–11, range 1–34), 19 (3%) inotropic support, and one ( Interpretation COVID-19 is generally a mild disease in children, including infants. However, a small proportion develop severe disease requiring ICU admission and prolonged ventilation, although fatal outcome is overall rare. The data also reflect the current uncertainties regarding specific treatment options, highlighting that additional data on antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are urgently needed. Funding ptbnet is supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

Fur asylsuchende Kinder und Jugendliche besteht ein erhohtes Risiko der Ansteckung mit Tuberkulose (TB) aufgrund ihrer Herkunft sowie durch Exposition wahrend der Flucht und beim Aufenthalt in Gemeinschaftsunterkunften. Gemas Infektionsschutzgesetz haben asylsuchende Personen in Gemeinschaftsunterkunften ein arztliches Zeugnis daruber vorzulegen, dass bei ihnen keine Anhaltspunkte fur das Vorliegen einer ansteckungsfahigen Lungen-TB vorhanden sind. Symptom- und/oder thoraxrontgenbasiertes TB-Screening haben bei Kindern und Jugendlichen im Vergleich zu Erwachsenen eine geringere Sensitivitat und Spezifitat. Zudem soll in dieser Altersgruppe ein besonders restriktiver Umgang mit ionisierender Strahlung gewahlt werden. Deshalb wird ein immunodiagnostisches TB-Screening mittels Tuberkulinhauttest (THT) oder „interferon-gamma release assay“ (IGRA) empfohlen. Der THT ist die Methode der Wahl bei Kindern < 5 Jahren; zwischen 5 und 14 Jahren kann ein THT oder IGRA verwendet werden. Dies soll bei allen asylsuchenden Kindern und Jugendlichen < 15 Jahren unabhangig von der TB-Inzidenz des Herkunftslands durchgefuhrt werden. Bei positivem Testergebnis sollen weitere Abklarung und Therapie gemas bestehender nationaler Empfehlung erfolgen.

UNLABELLED Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a rare pulmonary disorder caused by hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus. The prevalence is estimated to be about 1-2% in adult patients with asthma and 2-15% in patients with cystic fibrosis. In paediatric patients with asthma, only single case reports on ABPA exist. We report on a 13-year-old boy with allergic asthma complicated by ABPA. Despite the presentation of typical clinical symptoms, it took 6 years before he was diagnosed. The clinical course improved rapidly after ABPA therapy was started, and 12 months after diagnosis, the boy is still free of symptoms. Clinical symptoms of ABPA may be unspecific making a rapid diagnosis difficult in some cases. CONCLUSION A delay in diagnosis and treatment increases the risk for irreversible lung damage. Once bronchiectasis has developed, the outcome is unfavourable. Thus, ABPA has to be considered in patients whose asthma remains uncontrolled despite adequate therapy.