Characterisation and management of children and young people referred to a paediatric tertiary post-COVID service
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Purpose
Post-COVID condition (PCC) emerged following the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and required rapid service development to manage affected patients. This evaluation describes the demographics, medical background, management and six-month outcomes of children and young people with PCC-related symptoms referred to one specialist tertiary service between June 2020 and August 2022.
Methods
Data were retrospectively collected from referral information and medical notes.
Results
176 patients (61% female) aged 6–18 years were referred, with a mean 8.2 PCC-related symptoms impacting on functioning (97%) and school attendance (86%). 10% patients had an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis, above the ∼2% national prevalence, while rates of atopy and mental health were similar to national prevalence. 59% patients were managed in specialist tertiary clinics by clinicians with input from allied health professionals. At 6 month review, 40/73 patients reported improvement in their daily functioning, with 30/73 reporting no change and 3/73 reporting functional deterioration. School attendance increased over 6 months for 43/67 patients, with 12/67 reporting no change and 4/67 reporting reduced school attendance.
Discussion
Patients referred for PCC-related specialist input have significant functional impairment and challenges accessing education. More than half of those seen in specialist clinics showed functional improvement and increased school attendance over 6 months, while a subgroup had persistent symptoms. This suggests that the service model is beneficial for this complex patient group overall, although needs to be resourced for longer input for some. Further work is needed to understand the variability in presentation and symptom course.
Post-COVID condition (PCC) emerged following the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and required rapid service development to manage affected patients. This evaluation describes the demographics, medical background, management and six-month outcomes of children and young people with PCC-related symptoms referred to one specialist tertiary service between June 2020 and August 2022.
Methods
Data were retrospectively collected from referral information and medical notes.
Results
176 patients (61% female) aged 6–18 years were referred, with a mean 8.2 PCC-related symptoms impacting on functioning (97%) and school attendance (86%). 10% patients had an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis, above the ∼2% national prevalence, while rates of atopy and mental health were similar to national prevalence. 59% patients were managed in specialist tertiary clinics by clinicians with input from allied health professionals. At 6 month review, 40/73 patients reported improvement in their daily functioning, with 30/73 reporting no change and 3/73 reporting functional deterioration. School attendance increased over 6 months for 43/67 patients, with 12/67 reporting no change and 4/67 reporting reduced school attendance.
Discussion
Patients referred for PCC-related specialist input have significant functional impairment and challenges accessing education. More than half of those seen in specialist clinics showed functional improvement and increased school attendance over 6 months, while a subgroup had persistent symptoms. This suggests that the service model is beneficial for this complex patient group overall, although needs to be resourced for longer input for some. Further work is needed to understand the variability in presentation and symptom course.
Date Issued
2025-06-01
Date Acceptance
2025-01-28
Citation
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2025, 76 (6), pp.1025-1033
ISSN
1054-139X
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
1025
End Page
1033
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume
76
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2025 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40178459
PII: S1054-139X(25)00066-7
Subjects
Adolescent health
Child
Long COVID
Paediatrics
Post-COVID-19 condition/syndrome
Young people
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2025-04-03