Long Covid study finds teenagers suffered with symptoms for more than two years

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Long Covid symptoms Here is the ONS’s list of self-reported long Covid symptoms in the UK: Abdominal pain Allergies Chest pain Cough Diarrhoea Difficulty concentrating Ear pain Eyesight Fever General pain Hair loss Headache Joint pain Loss of appetite Loss of smell Loss of taste Low mood or not enjoying Memory loss or confusion Mobility Muscle ache Nasal congestion Nausea or vomiting Wheezing Numbness Palpitations Runny nose or sneezing Shortness of breath Skin rash/itch Sore throat Tinnitus Trouble sleeping Vertigo or dizziness Weakness or tiredness Worry or anxiety “Our findings show that, for teenagers who fulfilled our research definition of long Covid three months after a positive test for the Covid virus, the majority have recovered after two years,” said study chief investigator and first author, Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, from the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. “These results reinforce the need to address the underlying causes of ill-health, such as poor housing conditions, financial stress and unequal access to healthcare services, if we want to shift focus towards preventing illness before inequalities such as those found in this study arise.” Sammie McFarland, from the charity Long Covid Kids, said: “Two years is a long time in the life of a child. “While the study reassures us that most participants recovered within this period, the 30% of children and young people still affected highlights that long Covid remains a significant childhood illness and a pressing concern. “Long Covid Kids remains committed to supporting families and advocating for essential resources.” Dr Margaret O’Hara, founding trustee at the charity Long Covid Support, said: “The limitations of this study demonstrate the need for new, good quality prospective research into long Covid in children and young people.