Reinfection Significantly Increases Long COVID risk in Children
Children who experience reinfection wiht COVID-19 face more than double the risk of developing long COVID compared to those infected only once, according to recent findings. The study underscores the potential for repeated infections to exacerbate the burden of long-term health issues in pediatric populations, even as acute illness severity generally remains lower in children.
This discovery arrives as new COVID-19 variants continue to circulate and immunity from prior infection or vaccination wanes, raising concerns about the cumulative impact of repeated exposures. Long COVID, characterized by symptoms persisting weeks or months after the initial infection, can disrupt daily life, school attendance, and overall well-being for affected children and their families.Researchers emphasize the need for continued vigilance in preventing reinfections and providing comprehensive care for those who develop prolonged symptoms.
The research, presented recently, revealed that children with reinfections had a 2.2 times higher risk of experiencing long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, cough, and difficulty concentrating. “Reinfection can make you very sick,” stated Ravi Jhaveri,MD,a pediatric expert.
For more data, Ravi Jhaveri, MD, can be reached at pediatrics@healio.com.
