Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 in Hospitalized and Non-Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Aim: The global COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to both acute and long-term health consequences worldwide. Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms lasting weeks or months after recovery from the acute infection, has been increasingly reported. This study aims to evaluate the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in hospitalized and non-hospitalized pediatric patients, following WHO criteria for Long COVID. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between June 2020 and June 2021 at Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital. A total of 60 children with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 were included. The study participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 (30 children followed up in the outpatient clinic), Group 2 (30 children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)), and Group 3 (30 children without a prior COVID-19 infection as the control group). Parents completed a questionnaire assessing symptoms persisting for 12 weeks after diagnosis. Results: Group 2 experienced significantly more symptoms during both the acute and post-acute periods, including fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, weight loss, muscle/joint pain, and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and headache. Fatigue was particularly prevalent among hospitalized children, with anxiety and sleep disturbances also being significantly more common in the same group. Conclusions: Long COVID is a significant concern for pediatric patients. Fatigue, anxiety, sleep disorders, and headache were the most frequent persistent symptoms. These findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and targeted rehabilitation strategies to address the long-term effects of COVID-19 on children's physical and mental health.

Keywords

• Long COVID-19
• pediatric patient
• SARS-CoV-2
• MIS-C
• PASC

Hastanede Yatan ve Yatmayan Pediatrik Hastalarda COVID-19'un Uzun Dönemli Etkileri: Prospektif Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: SARS-CoV-2 ‘nin neden olduğu küresel COVID-19 pandemisi akut ve uzun vadeli sağlık sorunlarına yol açmıştır. Akut enfeksiyondan iyileştikten sonra semptomların haftalar veya aylarca devam etmesi ile karakterize olan Long COVID, artan şekilde bildirilmektedir. Bu çalışma, COVID-19'un hastanede yatan ve yatmayan pediyatrik hastalardaki uzun vadeli semptomlarını, Long COVID için WHO kriterlerini takip ederek değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntem: Bu prospektif çalışma, Haziran 2020-Haziran 2021 tarihleri arasında Sancaktepe Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi'nde gerçekleştirildi. PCR ile doğrulanan COVID-19 tanısı konmuş toplam 60 çocuk dahil edildi. Çalışma katılımcıları üç gruba ayrıldı: 1. Grup (poliklinikten takip edilen 30 çocuk), 2. Grup (çocuk yoğun bakım ünitesinde yatan 30 çocuk) ve 3. Grup (kontrol grubu olarak COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmemiş 30 çocuk). Ebeveynler, tanıdan sonra 12 hafta boyunca devam eden semptomları değerlendiren bir anketi doldurdular. Bulgular: Grup 2, hem akut hem de post-akut dönemlerde önemli ölçüde daha fazla semptom yaşadılar; bunlar arasında yorgunluk, nefes darlığı, ateş, kilo kaybı, kas/eklem ağrısı ve anksiyete, uyku bozuklukları ve baş ağrısı gibi nöropsikiyatrik semptomlar yer almaktadır. Yorgunluk, hastanede yatan çocuklar arasında özellikle yaygındı, anksiyete ve uyku bozuklukları da aynı grupta önemli ölçüde daha yaygındı. Sonuçlar: Long COVID pediyatrik hastalar için önemli bir kaynağıdır. Yorgunluk, anksiyete, uyku bozuklukları ve baş ağrısı en sık devam eden semptomlar arasındaydı. Bu bulgular, COVID-19'un çocukların fiziksel ve zihinsel sağlıkları üzerindeki uzun vadeli etkileri ile başa çıkmak için devam eden gözetim ve hedeflenmiş rehabilitasyon stratejilerinin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Uzun COVID-19
• pediatrik hasta
• SARS-CoV-2
• MIS-C
• PASC

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