Parents, if your child had Covid-19 and already recovered, you still need to bring him for a checkup with his doctor before he can go back to his normal activities. Why? Learn more about post Covid symptoms in children here.
What can you read in this article?
- Complications of having Covid-19 in children
- What tests should my child undergo after having Covid-19?
- When can my child receive his vaccine after having Covid?
It’s difficult when, despite your effort to shield your child from it, he gets Covid-19. So you do everything to give him the best quality of care when he is sick to make sure that he recovers quickly and he gets back to his normal, healthy self. Then you’re out of the woods … right?
Actually, before you put your child’s Covid experience in the past and move on, you still need to have your child checked by his paediatrician, regardless of how mild or severe his symptoms were before he can go back to his normal activities. This is to ensure that the child is cleared of the disease and has not acquired post-Covid symptoms that can put his health at risk.
No symptoms? This is why you still need to have your child checked after recovering from Covid-19
“I went to our paedia to get medical clearance for the Covid vaccine for my son. I told her that we have a history of diabetes and thyroid problems in our family, so she ordered test for it and added test for the heart and Covid antibodies,” shared mum Candice, whose two kids ages 10 and 4 had Covid-19 a month ago.
After the test, she found out that her kids had elevated levels of CPK-MB or Creatine phosphokinase-MB, a test that helps diagnose acute myocardial infarction.
She later found out from her kids’ paediatrician that this could be a complication developed from having Covid-19. The doctor requested additional tests for the heart to ensure that Mummy Candice’s kids are cleared of any long-term diseases.
“My kids only had fever for two days, but I never thought they would have long term side effects since it’s been a month since they had Covid,” she said. “I want to encourage parents who had kids with COVID to have post-Covid check up even if they only had mild symptoms,” added the mum of two.
Post-Covid symptoms in children
According to the new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidance on post-COVID-19 conditions in children and adolescents, everyone who tested for Covid-19 should have at least one follow-up checkup with their doctor to discuss symptoms that they may still have, new ones or just to get guidance on when to return to their normal activities.
“COVID-19 can lead to many secondary conditions, which can range from subacute to severe. Long-term effects from SARS-CoV-2 infection may be significant, regardless of the initial disease severity,” it stated.
According to Dr Cristal Laquindanum-Tan, a board-certified paediatrician from The Medical City in the Philippines, the post-Covid symptoms in children may vary. So you really need to observe your child to see if there is a change in his usual routine or habits.
“If something’s very different from his usual routines. Or even very subtle cues, then it can be something that’s still related to Covid.”
Moreover, since there are no general tests for people who just had Covid, you have to observe the symptoms that your child is having so the doctor can do a follow-up test on it.
Whether your child just had it mild or got really sick from Covid-19, they can still suffer from the following Post-Covid symptoms that affect children:
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Breathing problems
Covid-19 generally affects the lungs, so lingering respiratory problems are not uncommon. According to AAP, symptoms like chest pain, cough, and exercise-induced dyspnea can last for 3 months or even longer in children who had Covid-19.
According to Dr Tan, if you notice that your child has been having trouble breathing or always feeling tired after playing. It’s best to consult his paediatrician right away.
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Cardiac issues
A previous study of adult patients who recently recovered from Covid-19 patients reported that 60% of them had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, regardless of how severe their COVID symptoms were during the infection.
Common symptoms of this illness include chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and fatigue, while severe cases can lead to heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest.
For this reason, Dr Tan recommended an additional two weeks of resting and refraining from strenuous activities for children who are experiencing heart problems. In addition, children and adolescents who had mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms within the last 6 months need to undergo a thorough exam, including heart tests, before resuming school or sports activities.
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Changes in sense of smell and taste
One of the most popular symptoms of Covid-19 is the loss of their sense of smell and taste, and it can persist even after the infection.
This can have negative effects on your child’s mood and appetite (have you noticed that he doesn’t eat as much, or has lost weight after Covid), and even prevent them from noticing the dangerous odours. These symptoms will typically go away after a few weeks, but if it doesn’t, talk to your child’s paediatrician to test or retrain these senses.
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Developmental issues
Acute or long-term COVID-19 illness can affect the nervous system and, in rare cases, lead to stroke or encephalitis, or swelling of the brain.
Some symptoms that can occur in children who had Covid-19 include subtle changes in attention, speech, school work, movement, and mood.
In smaller children, you can also check for regression. For instance, your child has already learned how to potty train but is suddenly wetting the bed again.
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Mental fatigue
Has your child become more inattentive, or has trouble focusing? It may be a side effect of having Covid. According to AAP, “brain fog” was one of the complaints of most adults who recovered from Covid, and the symptom can be present in children too.
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Headaches
Another common symptom of Covid-19 patients is having headaches and unfortunately, this may also persist post-Covid.
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Mental and behavioural health
Just like in adults, having Covid-19 can also affect your child’s mental health. The experience of being isolated or hospitalised may take a toll on your child’s emotions and can linger even after the disease is gone.
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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
MIS-C is a very serious complication that can lead to inflammation of the organs and is one of the most serious post-Covid symptoms in children that paediatricians warn parents about.
“It’s a very rare complication. It usually happens 2 to 6 weeks after Covid infection,” said Dr. Tan.
MIS-C can get worse quickly, and some even have to stay in the intensive care unit for treatment. So if your child exhibits symptoms such as fever without an obvious cause after having COVID-19, have him examined by his paediatrician right away.
According to AAP, getting the complete dose of the Covid vaccine was reported to prevent MIS-C in children.
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Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. And it has been reported that children who had Covid-19 reported having symptoms of this disease.
Talk to your child’s paediatrician if he experiences frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, weight loss, tiredness or fatigue, stomach pain, and nausea or vomiting after having Covid-19.
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Long-haul Covid-19
While the symptoms are expected to last for about two weeks. There are some who actually experience it longer, for about 4 weeks. This is what medical experts refer to as post-Covid syndrome or long-haul Covid. In children, Post-Covid symptoms are showing up as fatigue, depression, and shortness of breath.
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Post-Covid care for kids
Who should get a check-up?
Dr. Tan recommends having a follow-up consultation with your child’s paediatrician after recovering from infection. You could set an online consultation if face-to-face interaction is not allowed. Even children who were exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid, but showed no symptoms should schedule a well-baby checkup.
Moreover, since testing is limited, the paediatrician advises those parents whose kids were exposed to Covid-19 positive patients and exhibited symptoms. But didn’t have the capacity to test, to still isolate their children and watch out for post-Covid symptoms.
“If the child had Covid symptoms but did not do a test, she can still be a Covid suspect. So I would still look out for post-Covid symptoms even after they recover,” she said.
In addition, to help your child recover and be on the road to wellness again, Dr Tan recommends going back or adopting a healthy lifestyle post-Covid.
“To help their immune system, they have to go back or start eating healthy, sleep early, have good ventilation at home and exercise to get our endorphins going,” she advised. “Ease in to your normal activities. Listen to your body,” she added.
When can they have their vaccine after having Covid?
“As long as the child is already finished with her isolation period, no respiratory symptoms and no fever for the last 24 hours, she can already receive her vaccine,” said Dr. Tan. “And not just the Covid vaccine. They should also get back to their immunisation schedule,” she reminded parents of your children.
If your child had Covid-19, it’s best to stay in constant communication with your paediatrician and schedule a follow-up checkup right away.
And if your child was exposed to a Covid-19 positive patient regardless if she had symptoms or not. Don’t hesitate to consult her doctor on the possibility of post-Covid symptoms.
Image from Freepik
This article was written by Camille Eusebio and republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines.
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