Clinical features of paediatric post-acute COVID-19 in Latvia: descriptive retrospective cohort study

To identify long-term post-acute Covid-19 symptoms and sequelae in children after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This was a retrospective cohort study. From March 2020 to December 2020 ninety two paediatric Covid-19 patients (age ≤ 18 years) and their parents were enrolled in the study. To identify the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we defined post-acute covid-19 as extending beyond three weeks from onset of first symptoms. All patients were evaluated in a face-to-face visit according to specially designed post-COVID-19 symptom assessment protocol 1 to 3 months after COVID-19 onset. The protocol consisted of following domains: physical health, mental health, cognitive functions, social and emotional well-being. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. The median interval from SARS-CoV-2 PCR test to the first follow-up visit was 55 days (IQR = 30–104 days). During the first follow up visit 49% (n=45) of all patients were asymptomatic and had returned to their previous level of health, but 51% (n=47) had persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the symptomatic patient group 20% (n=18) had only one long-term symptom, 10% (n=9) had 2 symptoms, while 22% (n=20) of all patients complained about three or more prolonged symptoms. The most common complaints were about constant fatigue (18%) and tiredness after good night sleep (20%), as well as anosmia/ageusia (16%) and periodic, recurrent headaches (15%). The long-term symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection are evident in paediatric population and affect children’s physical and emotional health. There are only few limited studies about post-acute covid-19 in adult population. The further research is needed in paediatric patient group.