Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 1: Children and adolescents reinfected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus face more than double the risk of developing long Covid, according to a comprehensive study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The findings raise fresh concerns about the long-term health impact of Covid-19 in younger populations, particularly in the era of repeat infections.

The study, which examined health data from over 460,000 children treated at 40 pediatric hospitals across the U.S., found that while 904 children per million developed long Covid symptoms within six months of a first infection, the rate jumped to 1,884 per million after a reinfection.

Children affected by long Covid were found to experience a wide range of persistent and, in some cases, serious conditions — including myocarditis (heart inflammation), blood clots, kidney injury, fatigue, respiratory problems, and cognitive difficulties.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Iowa, and University of California said the findings underscore the urgent need to expand vaccination coverage among children and continue researching the post-acute effects of Covid-19.

“The growing frequency of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in the Omicron era underscores the need to understand their long-term consequences,” the researchers noted. “Our findings indicate that the risk of post-acute sequelae (PASC) persists after reinfection, though it may vary depending on the severity of past infections and vaccination status.”

The team analysed electronic health records from January 2022 to October 2023, a time period dominated by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, to isolate risks specifically associated with second infections.

The study makes clear that Covid vaccines, while not offering absolute protection from infection or reinfection, remain the most effective tool to reduce both the likelihood of catching the virus and the potential long-term health effects in children.

The researchers concluded that the results should strengthen public health messaging and efforts to increase vaccine uptake among children and teenagers — a group often under-vaccinated despite being susceptible to the long-term consequences of the virus.