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Caring for Children and Adolescents with Long Covid

Guidance, Support, and Resources for Families
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Understanding Long Covid in Children

Long Covid refers to the lasting effects that can occur after a Covid-19 infection, including ongoing, relapsing, or new symptoms that persist beyond the initial illness. 

There are more than 75 symptoms of pediatric Long Covid, which can appear as groups of symptoms across different parts of the body. Low energy, headaches, difficulty concentrating, gut pain, and dizzyness are common. So are some symptoms that can be interpreted as behavioral such as school refusal. Children and adolescents who have Long Covid can have any mix of symptoms.

Long Covid affects what a child is able to do during a day, like how they play or if they are able to go to school.

What should I do if I think my child has Long Covid?

Make an Appointment

If you think your child may have Long Covid, it is important to talk with their doctor. Make an appointment with your child’s doctor to talk about what you are worried about, or talk about issues during your child’s regular doctor’s visits.

Right now, there is no cure for Long COVID.

Doctors can give your child medicines to help with some symptoms. They can help keep track of how your child is doing and let you know about new treatments.

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Before the Doctor’s Appointment

Tips on what information to gather before visiting the doctor.

Keeping a Symptom Diary

  • Try to remember when your child had a COVID infection and what their experience was like during that time.
  • Write down all the symptoms they had, even if they went away.
  • Make a list of all the medications your child is taking.

 

  • Keep a journal for 1-2 weeks to document symptoms, including:
    • When they start
    • How severe they are
    • If they are related to an activity
    • How long they last
    • What makes them better or worse
  • Write down any patterns and symptom groups you observe.
  • Try to do this at the same time each day.
  • Also, try to track when your child is changing activities, as symptoms might worsen during these transitions.

Detailed Guidance for Effective Symptom Tracking

Identifying Patterns and Triggers

Is this a new behavior or symptom?

Long Covid symptoms can sometimes manifest as changes in behavior that might seem unusual or out of character for your child. If you notice a new behavior or symptom, it’s important to consider that it could be linked to Long Covid. Even if the behavior is not new but has become more pronounced or noticeable, it could still be a sign of Long Covid. Keeping track of these changes can help in identifying and managing the condition effectively.

Comparing Current Behavior to Their Baseline

When evaluating whether your child’s behavior might be related to Long Covid, it’s helpful to compare it to their usual baseline. Consider how their current behavior differs from how they were before things started feeling “off.” For instance, if your child used to go to school without hesitation but now resists, if they were once a great sleeper or eater but now struggle in these areas, or if they were typically mild-mannered but have become easily agitated, these changes might indicate symptoms of Long Covid. Keeping track of these differences can provide important insights into their health.

Intensity of Symptoms

Using a pain scale can be a helpful tool to monitor symptoms. Whether you rate the intensity on a scale of one to ten or use an emoji scale, this method allows you to track changes in the symptom over time. This data also provides insight into how much the symptom interferes with daily life..

Duration and frequency of symptoms

How long do the symptoms last? Are they present for minutes, hours, days, or are they ongoing? If symptoms are not constant, it’s important to document how often they appear. Like other chronic, infection-related illnesses, Long Covid is often episodic—symptoms can come and go, fluctuating in both intensity and duration. Tracking these patterns can be essential for managing the condition effectively.

Empowering Symptom Management for Better Care

By tracking symptoms, we can better manage Pediatric Long Covid by recognizing patterns and triggers, ultimately leading to more effective management of symptoms. This practice also enhances communication with healthcare providers, resulting in more precise and personalized care.

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