“Children and adolescents were omitted from the study on the long-term aftereffects of Corona” : Dong-A Science

As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to spread for a long time, the number of patients with long-term sequelae who suffer from sequelae for a long time even after recovering from infection is increasing. According to the analysis results published in the international scientific journal ‘Brain, Behavior and Immunity’ in December last month, Up to a third of adults infected with COVID-19 continue to suffer from symptoms such as fatigue or shortness of breath after three months. In February last year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the seriousness of organ sequelae by announcing a $1 billion grant to research organ sequelae and treatments.

However, the scientific community continues to point out that research on the long-term sequelae of children infected with COVID-19 is still insufficient. There are reports that children also suffer from long-term sequelae similar to adults, and it is analyzed that related studies are focusing on adults. In fact, many studies in adults reveal the symptoms and incidence of long-term sequelae, but little is known about the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 in children. On the 8th, the international scientific journal Nature He published an editorial and called for a change in the academic community, saying, “Children can suffer from long-term sequelae just like adults, but there are very few studies on actual children.”

Data show that children also suffer from long-term sequelae. A research team led by Professor Terrence Stevenson of the Institute for Child Health at University College London (UCL) published in the international academic journal ‘The Lancet Children and Adolescent Health’ that children with COVID-19 are more likely to complain of related symptoms even after 3 months. The research team surveyed 6,804 adolescents aged 11-17 in the UK who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and their symptoms after 3 months. As a result, 30.3% of the respondents said they were experiencing three or more related symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath, even after 3 months, which was twice that of non-confirmed patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children infected with COVID-19 show symptoms similar to those of adults, such as fatigue, headache, insomnia, poor concentration, and cough. However, due to the lack of research, the accuracy of the incidence of organ sequelae in children ranges from as low as 1% to as high as 51%. Korea, where medical staff is intensively participating in quarantine, also lacks relevant research.

Some in the scientific community are just starting research to define a new definition of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) prepared a definition for organ sequelae in adults last October, but did not define organ sequelae for children and adolescents separately. Professor Stevenson’s team, after consensus with 120 international experts, was the first to define the definition of organ sequelae in children in the international journal ‘Pediatric Disease Record’ on the 8th. announced. Here, 8 teenagers aged 11 to 17 who are suffering from the long-term aftereffects of COVID-19 actually participated in the supervision and represented their voices. By definition, children are long-term if one of the following occurs: a persistent positive test for COVID-19, a physical, mental or social impact, a disruption in some aspect of school or home life, or a symptom lasting at least 3 months classified as suffering from sequelae. Professor Stevenson said, “In order for children and adolescents to meet and receive support from medical professionals, it is urgent to prepare not only research definitions but also clinical definitions.”

For research on long-term sequelae in children to come to fruition, the cooperation of parents from all parts of society must be supported. Most children’s research is slow or difficult to collect sufficient data because most of the symptoms are judged based on parental explanations or prior consent from parents or guardians is required. However, it is pointed out that research is urgent as the number of children who have been vaccinated is increasing due to the spread of Omicron mutation. Nature pointed out, “If research funding agencies don’t think more creatively, the timing of diagnosis and treatment of children with long-term sequelae will lag far behind that of adults.”