Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized children: findings from an Italian single-center study.

COVID Children Hospitalized Infection Long COVID Long-term effects SARS-CoV-2

Journal

Italian journal of pediatrics
ISSN: 1824-7288
Titre abrégé: Ital J Pediatr
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101510759

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
14 Feb 2024
Historique:
received: 09 11 2023
accepted: 15 01 2024
medline: 15 2 2024
pubmed: 15 2 2024
entrez: 14 2 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Limited evidence exists regarding the association between COVID-19 and Long COVID manifestations in children, particularly concerning variants of concern (VOCs). We aimed to characterize a cohort of pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed acute SARS-CoV-2 and monitor them for Long COVID symptoms. Additionally, it seeks to explore any potential correlations between VOCs and clinical symptoms. We conducted a prospective study involving children hospitalized from November 2021 to March 2023, with confirmed acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. A telephone survey was conducted at 3-6-12 months after discharge. We included 167 patients (77 F/90 M). Upon hospital admission, 95.5% of patients presented as symptomatic. Regarding patients for whom it was feasible to determine the SARS-CoV-2 variant (n = 51), the Delta variant was identified in 11 children (21.6%) and Omicron variant in the remaining 40 patients (78.4%: 27.5% BA.1 variant; 15% BA.2 variant; 57.5% BA.5 variant). 19 patients (16.5%) reported experiencing at least one symptom indicative of Long COVID (weight loss 31.6%, inappetence 26.3%, chronic cough 21.1%, fatigue 21.1%, and sleep disturbances, wheezing, abdominal pain and mood disorders 15.8%). In only 4 patients with Long COVID we could identified a specific SARS-CoV-2 variant (3 Omicron: 2 BA.1 and 1 BA.2; 1 Delta). this study underscores that long COVID is a significant concern in the pediatric population. Our data reinforce the importance of continuously monitoring the impact of long-COVID in infants, children, and adolescents. A follow-up following SARS-CoV-2 infection is therefore advisable, with symptom investigation tailored to the patient's age.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Limited evidence exists regarding the association between COVID-19 and Long COVID manifestations in children, particularly concerning variants of concern (VOCs). We aimed to characterize a cohort of pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed acute SARS-CoV-2 and monitor them for Long COVID symptoms. Additionally, it seeks to explore any potential correlations between VOCs and clinical symptoms.
METHODS METHODS
We conducted a prospective study involving children hospitalized from November 2021 to March 2023, with confirmed acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. A telephone survey was conducted at 3-6-12 months after discharge.
RESULTS RESULTS
We included 167 patients (77 F/90 M). Upon hospital admission, 95.5% of patients presented as symptomatic. Regarding patients for whom it was feasible to determine the SARS-CoV-2 variant (n = 51), the Delta variant was identified in 11 children (21.6%) and Omicron variant in the remaining 40 patients (78.4%: 27.5% BA.1 variant; 15% BA.2 variant; 57.5% BA.5 variant). 19 patients (16.5%) reported experiencing at least one symptom indicative of Long COVID (weight loss 31.6%, inappetence 26.3%, chronic cough 21.1%, fatigue 21.1%, and sleep disturbances, wheezing, abdominal pain and mood disorders 15.8%). In only 4 patients with Long COVID we could identified a specific SARS-CoV-2 variant (3 Omicron: 2 BA.1 and 1 BA.2; 1 Delta).
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
this study underscores that long COVID is a significant concern in the pediatric population. Our data reinforce the importance of continuously monitoring the impact of long-COVID in infants, children, and adolescents. A follow-up following SARS-CoV-2 infection is therefore advisable, with symptom investigation tailored to the patient's age.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38355648
doi: 10.1186/s13052-024-01596-y
pii: 10.1186/s13052-024-01596-y
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

27

Subventions

Organisme : Horizon 2020
ID : COVICIS project number 101046041

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Valeria Calcaterra (V)

Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy. valeria.calcaterra@unipv.it.
Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy. valeria.calcaterra@unipv.it.

Veronica Maria Tagi (VM)

Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Enza D'Auria (E)

Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy.

Alessia Lai (A)

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Sara Zanelli (S)

Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy.

Chiara Montanari (C)

Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Elia Maria Biganzoli (EM)

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Giuseppe Marano (G)

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Elisa Borghi (E)

Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy.

Valentina Massa (V)

Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy.

Agostino Riva (A)

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.
III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Gianvincenzo Zuccotti (G)

Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154, Milano, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Classifications MeSH