Post-COVID syndrome in children and adolescents of a large industrial city

Abstract

Background. About 30 to 80% of children who have had a new coronavirus infection, suffer from post-COVID syndrome, the manifestations of which are diverse and persist for 12 weeks or more. Post-COVID syndrome remains an urgent problem in pediatrics, the clinical variants of which are diverse. There is no statistically significant relationship between the severity of coronavirus infection and the development of post-COVID syndrome. According to current data, the risk group for post-COVID syndrome includes children under 1 year of age, children with comorbid pathology. Aim. To evaluate the frequency of development, clinical variants and course of post-COVID syndrome in children and teenager of a large industrial city in order to optimize recommendations for their rehabilitation after a new coronavirus infection. Materials and methods. The were analyzed developmental histories of 6252 children and adolescents in Kemerovo (form 112/y) who had a new coronavirus infection. Results. Data on post-COVID syndrome were recorded in the developmental histories of 3066 (49.04%) children and adolescents, analyzed by medical documents. At the age of 13–15 years, the incidence of post-COVID syndrome is 55%, which is statistically significantly higher than in other age groups (p=0.005–0.0001). The following clinical variants of post-COVID syndrome were identified: asthenic, respiratory, cardiac, recurrent ears, nose, and throat, functional gastrointestinal disorders and mixed, the frequency of which varies depending on age and gender. Children with comorbid pathology (iron deficiency anemia and grade I–II pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy) are statistically significantly more likely to suffer from post-COVID syndrome (p=0.000000001; 0.00000009; 0.00000009) than children without a history of comorbid pathology. Conclusion. Post-COVID syndrome occurs in half of children and adolescents who have had a new coronavirus infection. The frequency of post-COVID syndrome variants in children and adolescents differs. The presence comorbid pathology (iron deficiency anemia, pharyngeal tonsil hyperplasia of the 2 degree) increases the risk of developing post-COVID syndrome. It is necessary to examine patients in a timely manner for the purpose of differential diagnosis and drawing up an individual rehabilitation plan. Special attention should be paid to children with comorbid pathology.