Study Reveals Children Face Doubled Long COVID Risk After Second Infection

A new study indicates that children who experience a second COVID-19 infection are twice as likely to develop long COVID compared to those who have only contracted the virus once. This research, co-authored by Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Lurie Children’s Hospital, highlights growing concerns regarding the long-term impact of COVID-19 on young patients. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Lancet Infectious Diseases on March 15, 2024.

The study comes at a time when discussions surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations for children are increasingly contentious, with various state and federal health authorities providing differing recommendations. Dr. Jhaveri emphasized the significance of vaccination in light of the study’s findings, stating, “There are a lot of children and families that suffer from the various conditions that comprise long COVID.”

Long COVID, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a chronic condition that persists for at least three months following a COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can include brain fog, fatigue, and rapid heart rate, mirroring those experienced by adults. In younger children, more common symptoms might manifest as behavioral issues, irritability, and asthma, according to Dr. Jhaveri.

The research team analyzed electronic health records of over 465,000 children, comparing long COVID diagnoses between those who had one infection and those with two. They found that the risk of developing specific long COVID symptoms increased significantly after a second infection. For instance, the risk of myocarditis, which involves inflammation of the heart muscle, was found to triple with a second COVID-19 infection, while the likelihood of blood clots more than doubled.

Dr. Joe Bailey, a pulmonologist with the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center, noted the importance of these findings, stating, “This is showing that there’s still a medical consequence of getting COVID, even in children.” His insights underline the necessity of considering children’s health in discussions about the virus and vaccinations.

The publication of this study aligns with recent guidance from the Illinois Department of Health, which recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for all children aged 6 to 23 months and for those aged 2 to 17 who are at higher risk. This stance contrasts with recent federal recommendations, which left the decision to vaccinate up to individual families. In May, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. indicated that COVID-19 vaccines would not be recommended for healthy children due to a lack of clinical data supporting the need for repeat booster shots.

Despite the cuts to COVID-19 research funding announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the initiative that produced this study is still receiving support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This effort involves collaboration among 40 children’s hospitals and health institutions across the United States, aiming to deepen understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19.

As the public health landscape continues to evolve, the implications of this study are significant for parents and healthcare providers alike. It raises awareness of the potential risks associated with repeated COVID-19 infections in children and reinforces the importance of vaccination as a preventive measure.