BMC Pediatrics最新文献

{"title":"Cerebral resistive indices and intraventricular hemorrhage in premature neonates < 29 weeks' gestation: a pilot prospective cohort study.","authors":"Abhinav Pal, Dan Stewart, Kshama Ojha, Vesna Kriss, Craig Ziegler, Hannah Fischer","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06119-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06119-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical characteristics and prognosis of exchange transfusion in infants with severe pertussis.","authors":"Pingping Liu, Zhenghui Xiao, Jiaotian Huang, Yanying Chen, Juan Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06132-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06132-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To explore the efficacy and clinical significance of exchange transfusion (ET) therapy in infants with severe pertussis, and provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of severe pertussis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>45 infants diagnosed with severe pertussis and receiving ET treatment in the intensive care unit of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2024 were selected as the study subjects. According to the prognosis, they were divided into surviving group (n = 35) and mortality group (n = 10), and the clinical manifestations and biochemical indicators of the two groups were compared. The comparison between groups of count data was conducted using the chi square test. The t-test is used to compare between groups whose measurement data conforms to a normal distribution; The Mann Whitney U test is used to compare between groups that do not follow a normal distribution.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mortality of 45 infants with severe pertussis who received ET treatment was 22.2% (10/45). The incidences of oliguria, bradycardia, and pleural effusion in the mortality group were higher than those in the surviving group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils (NE) in mortality group were significantly higher than those in surviving group before ET treatment. After 24 h and 48 h of ET treatment, the WBC and NE in mortality group were still higher than those in surviving group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in WBC and NE between the two groups 72 h after ET treatment (P > 0.05). The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-BNP), creatinine (Cr), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and myoglobin (MYO) in mortality group were all higher than those in surviving group before ET therapy (P < 0.05). The PH and PO₂ levels in the blood gas analysis of mortality group were lower than those of surviving group before ET treatment, while PCO₂ and lactate (Lac) levels were higher than those of mortality group (P < 0.05). The incidences of pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, acute kidney injury, and pertussis encephalopathy in mortality group were higher than those in surviving group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The usage rates of hormones and vasoactive drugs in mortality group were higher than those in surviving group (P < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ET is an important treatment for improving the prognosis of infants with severe pertussis. Infants with severe pertussis who undergo ET have a higher peak WBC count, and those with concomitant pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiac, renal, neurological dysfunction have a poorer prognosis. Early intervention and active treatment are necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"761"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hearing assessment in transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia children on oral iron chelating agent.","authors":"Wafaa E I Mohamed, Marwa Waheed Tolba, Yara Khalid Abuelfadl, Abeer Mohamed Elgendy, Heba G A Ali","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06116-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06116-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hearing deficit is one of the side effects of 1st generation iron chelators in β-thalassemia, however the risk of hearing deficits following 2nd generation iron chelators is not well known.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess hearing status of Transfusion Dependent β-thalassemia children on oral iron chelating agents and detect risk factors for hearing impairment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectional study recruited sixty children and adolescent with confirmed diagnosis of transfusion dependent β-thalassemia. Demographic and clinical characteristics collected, audiological testing were performed by the same audiologist using the same equipment for all patients including tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion product otoacoustic emissions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Recruited children and adolescents with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia were 32 (53.3%) boys and 28 (46.7%) girls and their mean age was 11.34 ± 3.08, majority of patients 48 (80%) were on single Deferasirox. Our study revealed that among the 60 children evaluated, 16.6% exhibited some form of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was observed in 6.6% of the participants, while 10% had conductive hearing loss (CHL). Bilateral SNHL in 5% and bilateral CHL in 8.3% of all the cases. Hearing impairment was mild in nature, but predominantly affected high-frequency ranges, the most affected frequencies being 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz. There was no significant difference between studied thalassemia children with and without hearing impairment regarding gender, age at study entry, age at diagnosis, duration of disease and duration or dose of chelating agent (P > 0.05). Our study revealed significant difference between studied thalassemia children with and without hearing impairment regarding age of starting blood transfusion (p-value = 0.024), affected patients started blood transfusion at older age, also statistically significant difference in both groups regarding median serum ferritin was found (p-value = 0.028), lower levels were found in affected patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>No significant effect of using oral iron chelation drugs was observed on frequency and type of hearing loss among the studied patients but instead the age at starting regular blood transfusion did. Screening of such group of patients for hearing impairment at diagnosis and at regular periods is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"752"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12492925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between foot morphological development and bone maturation in children: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Si-Yuan Xie, Xiao Li, Zi-Yu Feng, Jing-Yi She, Yin Xie, Xin-Yao Hu, Jian-You Li, Kai-Rui Zhang, Hua-Jun Wang, Qi-Wei Pan, Jun-Jie Cao, Tian-Yi Li, Hao-Yong Hong, Yi-Ling He, Chen-Zhe Gao, Fu-Hui Lin, Yi-Kai Li, Chao Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06167-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06167-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Accurate assessment of pediatric foot development is essential for guiding clinical interventions. While chronological age (CA) is commonly used, it may not account for individual variations influenced by skeletal maturity. This study hypothesizes that bone age (BA) correlates more strongly with foot morphology than CA, particularly in predicting pediatric flatfoot progression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 141 healthy children aged 9-13 years. BA was assessed via hand-wrist X-rays (China 05 RUS-CHN method), and 3D foot parameters were measured using laser scanning. Participants were categorized into delayed, normal, and advanced maturity groups based on BA-CA differences. Correlation analyses and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to evaluate associations between BA, CA, and foot morphology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BA exhibited stronger correlations with foot length (FL), outer ankle height (OAH), ball width (BW), and ball girth (BG) compared to CA. Stratified analyses revealed sex-specific differences, with BA-FL correlations in males (r = 0.722) surpassing females (r = 0.572). However, BA showed limited associations with arch morphology parameters (KY index [KYI] and arch height [AH]; |r| < 0.3). PCA further demonstrated that general foot size (PC1) correlated robustly with BA (r = 0.671), while arch morphology (PC2) remained independent of both BA and CA (r = -0.113).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BA is a superior predictor of foot size growth (e.g., FL, BW) compared to CA, particularly in males, but offers limited utility in assessing arch maturation. These findings suggest BA may enhance clinical foot size predictions, yet arch development likely depends on other factors beyond skeletal maturity. Integrating BA into pediatric flatfoot management requires careful consideration of its context-specific benefits and limitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"757"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between joint hypermobility and primary nocturnal enuresis: a cross-sectional study in children aged 6-13 years.","authors":"Dorna Derakhshan, Shabnam Hajiani Ghotbabadi, Fatemeh Mazarei, Ali Mirzakhanlouei, Faizan Bashir","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06175-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06175-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nocturnal Enuresis (NE) is a prevalent childhood condition with a multifactorial pathogenesis comprising genetic, neurological, and connective tissue factors. Recent evidence points toward a possible link between joint hypermobility and NE, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and existing data are limited. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of joint hypermobility in patients with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) relative to healthy controls and investigate potential correlations between these conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 at Imam Reza Clinic, the largest pediatric outpatient clinic affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 180 children aged 6-13 years were recruited, including 90 children with primary nocturnal enuresis (study group) and 90 healthy children without nocturnal enuresis (control group). Participants were assessed for generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) using the Beighton score (≥ 6 indicating hypermobility). Demographic and clinical information was gathered on structured checklists. Statistical tests, such as chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression, were carried out using SPSS (version 25) at a significance level of p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of joint hypermobility was significantly higher in children with NE (87.8%) than in controls (28.9%) (p < 0.0001). Conversely, NE was present in 75.2% of hypermobile children compared with 14.7% of non-hypermobile children (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that children with nocturnal enuresis were 19.87 times more likely to have joint hypermobility compared to non-enuretic children following the adjustment for age, gender, and BMI (p < 0.05). Gender-specific analysis indicated that hypermobile girls with nocturnal enuresis at a greater likelihood of suffering from urinary incontinence and frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), whereas hypermobile boys with nocturnal enuresis had increased rates of constipation and urinary symptoms during the day.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows a strong association between GJH and PNE. Further research is needed to determine causal direction and underlying mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and concurrent aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case report and literature review.","authors":"Hong Liang, Yuwen Chen, Pimei Zheng","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06155-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06155-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"765"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of uterine fibroid size on perinatal and neonatal outcomes: a single-centre cohort of 651 pregnancies.","authors":"Ruken Dayanan, Dilara Duygulu Bulan, Merve Ayas Ozkan, Gulsan Karabay, Zeynep Seyhanli, Eda Beydilli Sural, Feyza Basmaz, Seda Kunt, Sevki Celen","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06133-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06133-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the impact of fibroid size on maternal and neonatal outcomes, determine whether a dose-response pattern exists across size categories (< 5 cm, 5-10 cm, > 10 cm), and identify a threshold at which pregnancy risk increases significantly.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study included 651 pregnant women with sonographically confirmed uterine fibroids. Participants were stratified into three groups based on the maximum diameter of the largest fibroid: <5 cm, 5-10 cm, and > 10 cm. Outcomes assessed included preterm birth, PPROM, malpresentation, caesarean delivery, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), fetal growth restriction (FGR), NICU admission, miscarriage, surgical outcomes such as operative time and blood loss, and a composite adverse perinatal outcome (CAPO). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables independently associated with CAPO.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adverse events rose stepwise with fibroid size. Preterm birth occurred in 12.3%, 24.1% and 36.1% of the size groups (p < 0.001); PPROM in 2.5%, 10.6% and 13.9% (p < 0.001); malpresentation in 13.3%, 28.6% and 47.2% (p < 0.001). Caesarean deliveries were 56.6%, 67.3% and 92.1%, while PPH rose from 1.3 to 30.6% (both p < 0.001). Operative blood loss and time likewise increased with diameter. Neonatally, mean birthweight declined (3150 g, 2995 g, 2870 g; p = 0.003); NICU admission rose from 13.5 to 34.1% (p < 0.001), and CAPO from 14.8 to 35.1% (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fibroids > 5 cm independently predicted CAPO (aOR: 1.84 for 5-10 cm; 3.78 for > 10 cm), while maternal age, parity, IVF were not significant. Descriptive subgroup analysis revealed longer operative times and greater blood loss in women with multiple, cervical, or combined-type fibroids.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Fibroid diameter emerged as a key determinant of obstetric and neonatal risk. Lesions > 5 cm, particularly > 10 cm, were associated with markedly increased rates of maternal haemorrhage, preterm birth, and neonatal morbidity. Such pregnancies should be managed as high-risk, with enhanced antenatal surveillance and individualized delivery planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"750"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12492596/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145211748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of magnetic auricular acupuncture on pain during ophthalmic examination of the newborn: a multicenter, triple-blinded, randomized controlled study.","authors":"Long Li, Roukeyan Tuerxun, Yajie Su, Yanli Yao, Chuanzhong Yang, Hongyun Wang, Lili Wang, Hui Wu, Yanxiang Chen, Xiuxiang Liu, Hong Jiang, Hongxia Gao, Dong Li, Fang Wu, Yuan Shi, Xiaoying Li, Huiqing Sun, Yanchen Wang, Laishuan Wang, Shoo K Lee","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06126-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06126-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Newborn eye examination is a painful procedure. Untreated pain experiences in infants have both short-term and long-term consequences, and pain control is essential. Unfortunately, non-pharmacological pain strategies are usually ineffective for complex and protracted procedures, whereas many pharmacologic agents have adverse effects. Magnetic auricular acupuncture (MAA) is a new method of pain relief that is potentially safe and effective. The objective of this study was to conduct a large definitive triple blinded randomized controlled trial of MAA for reducing pain in neonates undergoing ophthalmic examination. The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ID number ChiCTR1900027474) on November 14, 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a multi-center randomized controlled trial conducted at 16 tertiary hospitals in the People's Republic of China. Infants were eligible for participation if they were born at 26 to 42 weeks gestational age (GA) and admitted to participating NICUs during the study enrollment period, and scheduled to receive an eye examination for the first time at <44 weeks' corrected GA. Written informed consent was obtained from parents. Infants who were critically ill, dying or receiving sedatives were excluded. Infants randomized to the intervention (MAA) group received magnetic stickers applied prior to the ophthalmic procedure. Control group infants received placebo stickers with the magnets removed. We compared the primary outcome of Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score during the procedure between the two groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 408 patients were randomized, but 14 patients in each of the placebo and intervention groups did not receive ophthalmic examination; leaving 190 patients in control group and 190 in intervention group. Infant characteristics were similar in the two groups, mean PIPP scores during eye exam were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (median (IQR): 10.00 (5.00,13.00) v 12.00 (7.00,14.00), p = 0.038).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MAA may offer an alternative or adjunct to current non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to alleviate neonatal pain. Future studies should assess combinations of pain interventions and long term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"760"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495677/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study protocol of \"A preterm infant life-saving package including a simple and affordable incubator and a portable flow generator mask-CPAP in resource-limited settings\" SAVE preterm trial, saving preterm infants by adopting vital equipment.","authors":"Eiji Hirakawa, Hironobu Tokumasu, Latdavanh Vorlasane, Abubakarr B Bah, Isamu Hokuto, Ayako Seimiya, Machiko Morita, Mitsuaki Matsui","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06160-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06160-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"763"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experiences of living with long COVID during childhood and adolescence: a qualitative study from the child's perspective.","authors":"Emmy Lillieberg, Per Ertzgaard, Eva Fernlund, Karel Duchen, Patrik Rytterström, Charlotte Angelhoff","doi":"10.1186/s12887-025-06173-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12887-025-06173-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In February 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined long COVID in children, highlighting limited knowledge about its psychosocial impact. Studies show it as a complex, long-lasting condition affecting multiple systems. WHO and researchers emphasise the need for more understanding, particularly its effect on daily life. The aim of this study was to explore how life is experienced and how it changed whilst living with long COVID during childhood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We present a qualitative study with an inductive and exploratory approach. Between October 2022 and March 2024, 16 children between 9 and 18 years old diagnosed with long COVID were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured interview guide. The results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results present the subjective reality of children suffering from long COVID and their struggle in daily life. The findings are presented through three themes: Losing my foothold, Fatigue decides my path, and My way forward, illustrating a temporal and emotional journey, reflecting how children make sense of their experiences, adapt to the persistent impact of long COVID, and gradually move toward acceptance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study addresses the lack of knowledge of long COVID in the society, how it affects children in their struggle to find a new path in life. It also shows that, with knowledge and support, the symptoms and the burden of the condition can decrease or even pass. It is important that people around these children, including health care, school and family, use this knowledge to promote health and avoid educational, health and social problems at a vulnerable time in life.</p>","PeriodicalId":9144,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pediatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"754"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12492641/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}