2.4.1. Long COVID

Long COVID includes symptoms that appear three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and last for two months or longer after a child’s COVID-19 infection [5]. Data on nineteen symptoms were collected by Yes/No questions, including: Cough, Fever, Loss of smell, Shortness of breath, Sore throat, Headache, Muscle pain, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life, Sleep disorders (cannot sleep, sleep too much), Anxiety/depression, Poor concentration, Memory issues, Dizziness when the child stands up (light-headedness), Sore eyes, Raised welts on skin or swelling ear ache or ringing in the ears, and Red or purple sores or blisters on feet.

We also collected data on the impact of long COVID on the child’s studying and daily activities. Parents/guardians’ perceptions of their child’s health were surveyed to determine if they believed that the child had fully recovered from COVID-19. The severity of long COVID was reported based on whether the child had visited a doctor, hospital, commune health center, emergency department, or did not attend school due to any long COVID symptoms.