Consult doctor if child has new, lingering COVID-19 symptoms
Q: My son had COVID19 a few months ago and seems to have some lingering effects. Should I talk to his pediatrician?
A: Millions of U.S. children and teens have tested positive for SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Fortunately, they have been less likely than adults, so far, to become very ill.
However, even if they had few or no symptoms, kids can develop a number of other conditions after the COVID-19 infection. Some are minor and may go away on their own. Others are more serious and may need treatment.
After a COVID-19 diagnosis, talk with your child’s doctor about lingering or new symptoms, and what to do.
Your pediatrician also can help guide your child’s safe return to activities, such as sports.
Here are some symptoms and conditions that can affect children after COVID-19 that you should discuss with the pediatrician:
Breathing problems: Because COVID-19 most often affects the lungs, lingering respiratory symptoms are not uncommon. These may include chest pain, cough and more trouble breathing during exercise. Some of these symptoms can last for three months or longer. Children 6 years or older with ongoing symptoms may need lung function tests.
Cardiac issues: Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can develop after COVID-19 (and in extremely rare cases, receiving mRNA vaccines). Symptoms of myocarditis may include chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and fatigue.
As many as 1 out of 4 children and teens ages 10 to 19 who have had COVID19 experience changes to their smell and taste. This can have a negative effect on their eating habits and mood. It can also prevent them from noticing dangerous odors. These symptoms typically go away in several weeks.
Smell and taste: Developmental issues:
Active COVID-19 illness can affect the brain and, in rare cases, lead to stroke or encephalitis (brain swelling). Serious inflammation of the brain can lead to obvious difficulties in a child’s daily function, but children who have had mild or moderate COVID19 infection may still experience subtle changes in attention, speech, schoolwork, movement and mood.
Mental fatigue:
“Brain fog” is a frequent complaint among adults who’ve had COVID-19. Children and teens may have similar symptoms. Your child may seem more forgetful or have trouble paying attention.
Physical fatigue: After SARS-CoV-2 infection, children and teens may tire more easily and have less physical endurance, even if they had no heart or lung symptoms from the virus. This usually improves over time.
Headaches: Headache is a common symptom during and following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating regular meals and managing stress can help.
Mental and behavioral health: Having had COVID-19 can affect a child’s mental health.
For children with existing mental/ behavioral illness, events surrounding COVID-19 (hospitalization, isolation, absence from school activities) may also make symptoms worse.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C):
This is a rare complication that typically happens 2 to 4 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Talk with your pediatrician if your child has symptoms such as fever without an obvious cause after having COVID-19 or being exposed to someone who did. MIS-C can get worse quickly, and children who develop this condition should be cared for in a pediatric/cardiac intensive care unit whenever possible.