Standardized Approach to Pediatric Post-COVID Syndrome and Its Impact on Children and Adolescents : A Perspective From a Tertiary Center

Article Article scientifique Article Standardized Approach to Pediatric Post-COVID Syndrome and Its Impact on Children and Adolescents : A Perspective From a Tertiary Center eng 2024-10-24 2025-03-01 author Nzale Shadya Amalia From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneve. 922264 author Perrin Anne 0000-0002-2023-3157 Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent Health. 89168 author Soroken Cindy Jan 0000-0003-3557-6328 From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneve.,Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent Health. 774302 author Nehme Mayssam From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneve.,Division of Primary Care Medicine, Department of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 840942 Département de santé et médecine communautaire (MECOM) author Posfay Barbe Klara 0000-0001-9464-5704 From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneve.,Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent Health. 39230 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) author L'Huillier Arnaud 0000-0001-9230-7285 From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneve.,Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent Health. 543058 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) 228-233 10.1097/INF.0000000000004593 39446622 0891-3668 PMC11812667 https://journals.lww.com/pidj/fulltext/2025/03000/standardized_approach_to_pediatric_post_covid.9.aspx Background: Pediatric post-COVID syndrome (pPCS) affects a notable number of children. This study aims to describe its clinical manifestations, biopsychosocial impact and management strategies. Methods: A prospective, single-center study was conducted to analyze data of pPCS patients presenting to our institution between May 2021 and November 2022. Functional impact was evaluated by assessing school absenteeism and by using the Adolescent Depression Rating Scale (ADRS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and Fatigue Severity Scale. Results: Among the 50 patients included [median age (interquartile range): 14.0 (12.9-15.8) years; females: 70%], the most common symptoms were extreme fatigue (84%), exertion intolerance (82%), orthostatism (66%), dyspnea (66%) and headache (66%); 25% had an abnormal Schellong test. Median (interquartile range) ADRS, PedsQL and Fatigue Severity Scale scores were 3.0 (1.0-5.0), 56% (49%-71%) and 45.0 (32.0-53.0), respectively. Sixty percent experienced partial (34%) or complete (26%) school absenteeism. The most common referrals to specialized consultations were child psychiatry (48%), pulmonology (46%), physiotherapy (36%) and an ear-nose-throat specialist (24%). Eighty percent had a typical form of pPCS, whereas 20% had a clinical presentation suggestive of a functional disorder triggered by COVID-19. The latter had more frequent thoracic pain ( P = 0.012) and more referrals to pediatric neurology ( P = 0.01), gastroenterology ( P = 0.011), ophthalmology ( P = 0.037) and child psychiatry ( P = 0.035), but less to pulmonology ( P = 0.014). School absenteeism and social withdrawal were also more common in this group, with more severe PedsQL and ADRS scores. Conclusion: pPCS is associated with a significant socio-educational burden that should be taken into account in medical, social and educational care. Humans Female Adolescent Male COVID-19 / complications COVID-19 / psychology COVID-19 / epidemiology Child Prospective Studies Quality of Life Tertiary Care Centers Fatigue / etiology SARS-CoV-2 Severity of Illness Index Absenteeism Depression Dewey 613 Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 201 Centre de médecine de premier recours 22A9 false 515 Recherche en infectiologie pédiatrique et en pédiatrie générale 853 The Pediatric infectious disease journal 44 3 304c257a-d970-4cbd-ba36-439261dc0f53 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_europePmc.pdf 638039 application/pdf CC BY-NC-ND-4.0 25da35d4703adb3eaf94f50882f652cca8a37863c506dd4ed0c15e701ad4467d ce51a747-d014-4273-9971-ebfae15fb798 Supplemental data Public inf_1_1_2024_10_04_huillier_pidj-24.pdf 238753 application/pdf c277189c5f33ce746e7918bfba003442da39ab1683ca91777c935ea586d7d040 f00e7509-50e6-4083-bd72-514d2bf7d583 Supplemental data Public inf_1_1_2024_10_04_huillier_pidj-241.pdf 184162 application/pdf 239bd0598881199a92ee939494423d0322734cb4126f5749ab1eb6435093a1e6 ca917bc1-0f1e-445a-bf22-d31e82b69e81 Supplemental data Public inf_1_1_2024_10_04_huillier_pidj-242.pdf 180754 application/pdf 0e9e74d70120d29e12a2419502fee75a3eadbea73f58a55569bc759f77c7462c ab7539f2-3714-4388-8a5a-94cb43cde74d Supplemental data Public inf_1_1_2024_10_04_huillier_pidj-243.pdf 7805 application/pdf 5583f63c6a9f6bd4600310f19d40d3aabed8417fa16bcf18a784b20461222f4e b41ce020-1d4c-4f58-9bbd-15bbb75c5690 Supplemental data Public inf_1_1_2024_10_04_huillier_pidj-244.pdf 9976 application/pdf f2dced43fcc68b2796231205a801bfce09b50cb12233f6b6478ba60d2dbc5b23 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Centre de médecine de premier recours

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Standardized Approach to Pediatric Post-COVID Syndrome and Its Impact on Children and Adolescents : A Perspective From a Tertiary Center	The Pediatric infectious disease journal			2025	33	107

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Nzale, Shadya Amalia