FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2025
New JAMA Pediatrics Study Identifies Long COVID Symptoms in Young Children
NIH-Funded RECOVER Pediatrics Study Illuminates Impact of Infection on Children Under Six
New data published in JAMA Pediatrics, by the NIH-funded RECOVER-Pediatrics study found that children under age six with a history of COVID-19 were significantly more likely to experience poor appetite, trouble sleeping, cough, fatigue, and low energy. Among the more than 1,000 infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children included in the study, fourteen percent of infected infants and toddlers and fifteen percent of preschoolers —approximately 1 in 7 children under age 6 – met criteria for probable Long COVID. These children were also more likely to have poorer overall health, reduced quality of life, and perceived delays in developmental milestones.
“This research brings long-overdue attention to what has been an invisible crisis,” said Megan Carmilani, an author of the study and President of Long COVID Families. “For far too long, young children have been largely excluded from public conversations about the impact of COVID, and as a result, affected families have had to navigate this alone. This study finally gives them and their health care providers clear information they can act on. It should be a wake-up call to providers and parents: babies and toddlers can develop Long COVID. These families must be recognized, believed, and supported with meaningful care.”
The implications of these findings are far-reaching. Pediatricians must be equipped to recognize Long COVID symptoms in very young children and provide early, appropriate care. Parents should be informed that even babies and toddlers can be affected, regardless of how mild the initial infection seemed. Schools and daycare centers need to be prepared to support children whose symptoms may fluctuate and persist. Government agencies must prioritize funding for pediatric-specific research, public health education, and care infrastructure. Without urgent action across these systems, many children may continue to go unrecognized and unsupported.
Also published in JAMA Pediatrics is a Patient Page co-authored by Carmilani, Dr. Rachel Gross, and Dr. Melissa Stockwell. The page provides a clear, age-specific overview of Long COVID in young children, school-aged children, and teens. It explains that symptoms can persist or newly emerge weeks after infection, even in mild or asymptomatic cases, and may fluctuate over time. Designed for caregivers, the page helps families recognize potential signs of Long COVID in children from infancy through adolescence and supports informed conversations with medical providers.
Megan Carmilani is the founder and president of Long COVID Families, the only national nonprofit solely focused on supporting children and families affected by pediatric Long COVID. The organization leads public education efforts, develops resources for families and professionals, and advocates for research, care access, and policy change.
Together, these publications provide critical tools to help families, providers, and policymakers recognize pediatric Long COVID and respond with appropriate care and support.
Read the full study
Characterizing Long COVID Symptoms During Early Childhood
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834480
Access the Patient Page
Long COVID in Young Children, School-Aged Children, and Teens
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834486
Media Contact
Long COVID Families
media@longcovidfamilies.org
www.longcovidfamilies.org
