PhD Scientific Days 2026

Conservative Medicine

Long-term Outcomes of Pediatric Long COVID Syndrome: a Follow-up Study of Recovered and Persistently Symptomatic Children

Name of the presenter

Kovács, Fanni

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Pediatric Centre

Authors

Fanni Kovács¹, Rita Körtvélyessy², Réka Garai¹
1: Semmelweis University, Pediatric Centre
2: Semmelweis University

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Long COVID syndrome (LCS) may develop after SARS-CoV-2 infection, when new symptoms occur or symptoms persist for more than three months after the acute disease. Even children, whose acute illness is mostly mild, suffer from long COVID syndrome in about 1-5% of all cases. Symptoms are diverse and fluctuate, usually more organ systems are affected, and the quality of life is impaired. The disease resolves usually in 1 year, but in 20% of the cases lasts for more than 3 years.
Aims: We aimed to assess the current health status and quality of life of children more than two years after the diagnosis of long COVID syndrome, and to identify factors associated with recovery.
Methods: Between April 2021-2024, we cared for more than 500 patients in the Pediatric Long COVID Outpatient Clinic. Based on our database, 299 eligible patients were invited for follow-up assessment to record their symptoms, quality of life, chronic diseases, recovery circumstances and employed therapies. Besides, we enrolled healthy children without previous long COVID syndrome. Blood samples were collected for immune cell phenotyping and neutrophil functional assays.
Results: Forty-eight children with previous long COVID and 15 control children completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 17.4 ± 3.4 years in the long COVID cohort and 16.4 ± 5.6 years in the control group. Out of 48, 21 stated that they still have long COVID symptoms (LC group), and 27 are healed (post-LC group). Fatigue was the most frequent complaint, affecting 78% of children in the LC group, compared with 59% in the post-LC group and 47% in the control group. The mean quality of life score of the LC group is 78±10,6, which is more than 5 points lower than the mean of the control group (84±14). Anxiety was reported to be the most common post-COVID-19 onset chronic disease of the LC group. Time proved to be the most effective factor leading to recovery.
Conclusion: Our follow-up study proves that long COVID syndrome persists for more than two years after diagnosis, and underscores the need for targeted therapeutic interventions, alongside sustained psychosocial support for children navigating long COVID.
Funding: Supported by the 2025-2.1.1-EKÖP-2025-00014 University Research Scholarship Programme of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.