Anxiety over long term effects on kids

[LittleHootie]

I'm getting increasingly anxious about the long term effects of covid. I'm worried that my child could get it, end up with scarred internal organs, that then limit his lifespan.

I read something about scarred heart tissue causing heart attacks (in adults) and it's set me off.

This fear keeps playing over in my mind and I'm starting to feel scared about the return to school.

I know people say kids don't usually suffer with it. Does anyone know if that means organs aren't damaged?

I know it's a very specific thing I've got hung up on, and I'm possibly a bit crazy, but some reassurance would be welcomed.

I think you need to focus on the minute probability that a) your child will get Covid b) will get it with symptoms c) will get quite ill with it D) will get flu-ill with it e) will need hospital f) will suffer long term effects.

Nobody knows ultimately what the probabilities of any of these scenarios are, but while A is higher than F, even A is not high.

Try to see it like that.

I totally feel for you. It is very anxiety provoking and so new and uncertain. It’s totally understandable that you feel this way.

Research so far (we are learning all the time) shows that children are much less likely to even catch it than adults. They are then far less likely to get it badly. The risks to children are infinitesimally small. As close to zero as you can get. A very very small number can get an unusual immune response but it’s very very rare. Children tend to fight things off much more easily than adults and their bodies repair so much more quickly than adults. Children are at much greater risk of being run over. The risks to their development of not playing with other children and not having schooling of some kind are probably a much greater long term risk to their health and wellbeing.

It’s great that your brain works so hard to protect your DC by sending you these thoughts but that’s what they are. Thoughts. Notice them, thank your brain for working so hard to protect your DC and then do what matters most to you.

I think many viruses can have long term implications but it's a minority which suffer from them. Personally I'm more concerned with the effect of lock down on my children's education and development. There's always risks out there.

Thank you all. This anxiety is definitely worse at night, your comments have helped so I'll remind myself of these points. X

I don’t think you’re crazy but if your anxieties are feeling burdensome, would you consider talking to a GP? They might be able to answer some of your questions and suggest good resources for managing anxiety if getting answers doesn’t help.

I'll see how I get on. I'm due a break somewhere in a week. Maybe the change of scene will help shake this off. I feel pretty down at the minute with being stuck at home and zero support (single parent). Need to stop climbing the walls. Thanks.