Adolescents with Persistent Symptoms Following Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection (Long-COVID): Symptom Profile, Clustering and Follow-Up Symptom Evaluation.

Publication date: Dec 27, 2024

Few studies have evaluated long-COVID in adolescents. Cohort study. Demographics, clinical data, and the presence of 30 symptoms were collected with a modified WHO form. Mean values were compared by Student’s t test and proportions by the chi-square test or Fisher test, with trends over time analysed using the chi-square test for trend. Potential risk factors independently associated with persisting symptoms were evaluated in a multivariable logistic regression model. Clustering of cases was analysed by two-step automatic clustering. A total of 97 adolescents aged 12-17 (54. 6% females, 45. 4% males) were evaluated. After a mean interval of 96 days (SD 52) from acute infection, the mean number of symptoms (2. 8 overall) was higher for pre-Omicron (3. 2 vs. 2. 5 in Omicron, p = 0. 046) and moderate/severe acute infections (4. 2 vs. 2. 7 in mild, p = 0. 023). Fatigue (62. 9%) and dyspnea (43. 3%) were the most common symptoms, followed by headache (28. 9%), thoracic pain (22. 7%), diarrhea (20. 6%), palpitations/tachycardia (17. 5%), articular pain (15. 5%), difficult concentration (14. 4%), muscle pain (12. 4%), taste reduction (8. 2%), smell reduction (8. 2%), fever (6. 2%), and skin disorders (5. 2%). The symptom profile was similar in males and females but showed significant differences from that observed in concurrently followed adults. After a mean interval of 340 days from infection, 45. 3% still presented symptoms, with persistence associated with higher number of initial symptoms. Two clusters were defined that differed in the phase of acute infection and the number and profile of symptoms. Long-COVID manifestations in adolescents may differ from those observed in adults. Polisymptomaticity may predict long-term persistence.

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Concepts Keywords
Basel adolescents
Dyspnea COVID-19
Student dyspnea
Thoracic fatigue
long-COVID
post-COVID
symptom clusters
symptoms

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH SARS-CoV-2 Infection
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
disease IDO symptom
disease IDO acute infection
disease MESH infections
disease MESH dyspnea
disease MESH tachycardia
disease IDO infection
disease MESH Long Covid
disease MESH Metabolic Diseases
disease MESH Infectious Diseases
disease MESH symptom clusters
disease MESH sequelae
disease MESH morbidity
drug DRUGBANK Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
drug DRUGBANK Corticorelin
disease MESH functional status
drug DRUGBANK Oxygen
disease MESH asthma
pathway KEGG Asthma
disease MESH Tourette syndrome
disease MESH anxiety
disease MESH Obesity
disease MESH hypoplasia
disease MESH metabolic syndrome
disease MESH Hashimoto thyroiditis
disease MESH Epilepsy
disease MESH Trisomy
disease MESH pericarditis
disease MESH low blood pressure
disease MESH pancreatitis
disease MESH depression
disease MESH psychosis
disease MESH post traumatic stress disorder
disease MESH polyneuropathy
disease MESH fasciculations
disease MESH acute disease
disease MESH paresthesia
disease MESH weight loss
disease MESH gait
disease MESH delirium
disease MESH hallucinations
disease MESH memory loss
disease MESH Joint pain
disease MESH alopecia
disease MESH brain fog
disease IDO quality

Original Article

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