LONG-COVID IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: VIRUS, MENTAL HEALTH AND PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT

Long-Covid is a typical condition of adults with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection in the previous 3 months with symptoms that last over 2 months and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. Studies in paediatric age are heterogeneous and show a prevalence of long-Covid from 4% to 66%. The most frequent symptoms in children and adolescents are somatic symptoms and this raises the question whether they are not specific symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, in some cases they are due to the consequences of the pandemic (restrictions, uncertainty and lockdown). The lack of significant differences of the reported symptoms in seropositive and seronegative students suggests that long-Covid-19 might be less common than previously thought and emphasizes the impact of pandemic-associated symptoms as to the well-being and mental health of young adolescents. A targeted approach to functional rehabilitation becomes necessary and should include a psycho-relational evaluation and investigate the presence of a psychiatric comorbidity as well.