How Can You Tell Long-COVID in Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers?
Do babies and toddlers really get long-COVID? According to the RECOVER–Pediatrics cohort study, the answer is yes—but their symptoms may look quite different from those in preschoolers, school-aged children, or adolescents.
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s effort to understand long-COVID across all age groups. Researchers developed age-specific indices to identify symptoms most likely to indicate long-COVID in children as young as infants.
What the Research Found
Infants & Toddlers (0–2 years):
The symptoms most strongly linked to long-COVID include:
- Poor appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Wet cough
- Dry cough
- Stuffy nose
Preschoolers (3–5 years):
The key symptoms are:
- Daytime tiredness or low energy
- Persistent dry cough
These findings highlight that long-COVID symptoms change with age, and that screening young children requires a tailored approach. For example, while older children and teens often report neurological or gastrointestinal problems, infants and toddlers show more respiratory and sleep-related issues.
Why This Matters
Many children with long-COVID go unrecognized and unsupported, especially in the youngest age groups where symptoms can be mistaken for normal childhood illness or developmental issues.
Although the indices developed by researchers are not yet clinical tools, they represent an important step toward future screening and care strategies.
A Canadian Perspective
A 2024 Canadian study found that pediatric long-COVID is far less common than in adults. At 12-month follow-up, only 0.67% of SARS-CoV-2 positive children met the WHO definition of post-COVID-19 condition—compared to 0.16% in children who never tested positive. While this is reassuring, it still underscores that some children do experience long-term effects.
Takeaway for Parents
If your baby, toddler, or preschooler had COVID-19 and continues to experience persistent sleep issues, coughing, low energy, or changes in appetite, it may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
Long-COVID in children is rare, but not impossible—and early recognition can help families get the right support.
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