According to a recent study published in the journal The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. It generally takes children no more than six days to recover from COVID-19, and 4.4 percent of children experience symptoms beyond four weeks.
Prolonged COVID-19 in children is already a reality
A large population suffering from COVID has reportedly experienced prolonged illness after COVID-19. Which is also called prolonged covid. Prolonged COVID is when symptoms persist for four weeks or more.
Previous speculation was made that the possible third wave would be dangerous for children. But it is a sigh of relief to know that many children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus do not even develop symptoms and, in those who do, the illness is mild.
Still children who experience prolonged symptoms is low
“It is reassuring that the number of children experiencing prolonged Covid-19 symptoms is low. However, a small number of children experience a prolonged illness with Covid-19. And our study validates the experiences of these children and their families ”. Emma Duncan, lead and lead author of the study and a professor at King’s College London, UK, said in a statement.
COVID-19: ABOUT THE STUDY
For the study, researchers at King’s College London collected data from a smartphone app. The data included more than 250,000 UK children between the ages of five and 17 as reported by their parents and carers.
The focus was on reports of 1,734 children collected between September 1, 2020 and February 22, 2021. All of whom presented symptoms of COVID-19 and received a positive RT-PCR test. Data on their symptoms was regularly updated in the app until the children felt ill.
RESULTS
The children were found to be low with COVID for an average of six days. And they experienced an average of three symptoms during the first week of infection.
Most of the children recovered within a month, about 4.4 percent (77) of them experienced symptoms even after a month. The most common symptom that remained after four weeks was fatigue.
SYMPTOMS OF COVID-10 IN CHILDREN
Of the 77, 64 children reported having suffered fatigue at some point during your illness. Loss of smell and headache were also common. Headache was common during the onset of infection. While the loss of smell occurred later and persisted for a longer period.
Older children tend to be sick longer than children of primary school age.
Care is the most important
The team also tested children who tested negative for COVID-19 but may have other illnesses such as colds and flu. Children with COVID-19 were found to be sick longer compared to children with other illnesses who tested negative for the virus.
The data highlights that illnesses such as colds and flu can also have long-term symptoms in children, and therefore it is important to be careful.
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