BMC public healthMay 20, 2026

Long-term symptoms after Covid-19 in children and young people 3.5 years later

Long Covid Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jun 28, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Among children and young people with persistent post-COVID-19 condition, symptoms often remained severe and disruptive 3.5 years after infection.

Evidence

This mixed-methods follow-up from the CLoCk study surveyed 50 children and young people aged 11-17 who had persistently met post-COVID-19 condition criteria, and 42 of 50 still met the definition at 3.5 years.

Caveat

The findings are descriptive and come from a small responder group already selected for persistent PCC, so they do not estimate long-term burden in all infected children.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive data on the persistence of Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC; also known as Long COVID) and its impact on children and young people (CYP), incorporating their own perspective, is crucial to enhance our understanding of the condition, improve service provision and inform clinical management.

METHODS: We examine long-term symptoms, health, and well-being among CYP persistently meeting PCC criteria up to 3.5-years after SARS-CoV-2 infection (when they were aged between 11-to-17-years), using a mixed-methods approach. 68 CYP from the CLoCk study who persistently met PCC criteria at 3- (April-June 2021), 6- (July-September 2021), 12- (January-March 2022), and 24-months (January-March 2023) post-infection were invited to complete an additional follow-up (October-November 2024). The survey assessed current symptoms and health status using validated measures, and symptom experiences through open-text responses. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative data were analysed using thematic framework analysis. Findings were integrated using a convergent parallel design.

RESULTS: 50 CYP completed the survey; of these 42 (84%) responders continued to meet the PCC definition 3.5-years post-infection. All 42 (100%) reported tiredness and 34 (81%) reported 5 + symptoms 3.5-years post-infection. Qualitative analysis reinforced tiredness as a central symptom, alongside co-occurring symptoms that impact daily life. While quantitative and qualitative findings largely converged, context as to why CYP reported high levels of impact were only available from qualitative data.

CONCLUSIONS: CYP with PCC persisting for 3.5-years post-infection experience multiple symptoms of wide-ranging severity and disruption to daily life, education and social participation.