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Risk of long covid in children

121 replies

SansaSnark · 21/02/2021 19:41

twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1363473889951637504

Twitter thread here from Christina Pagel which is very measured and balanced. She is not usually alarmist about covid related stuff.

The narrative is that catching covid is ok for children, but the truth is, we don't really know what the long term impacts will be.

Personally, I think we need to be more cautious with the level of risk children are being exposed to in schools, and reopen with serious mitigation measures. School sites are very likely to be too small to open to all children at once safely, so some sort of rota system is needed.

Long term, I think we need to be putting more efforts into developing a vaccine for our children.

OP posts:
TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:30

longshot Sad to hear that about your dd. It’s a lot for them to deal with, isn’t it. I’m glad to hear she’s feeling 90% better, that’s really positive!

She sounds really similar to ds - he was also super slim, fit, always running/playing football, no underlying conditions, then just absolutely wiped out. He couldn’t go back to school in the summer (when he was in year 6) as he physically didn’t have the energy to get through the whole day. Even a half day wiped him out for the rest of the week. It will be “interesting” to see how he coped with full days back in school now. I really hope like you that him going back to school and the normality of everything will give him a boost. Good luck to your dd! Flowers

TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:32

CovidCrow “Just stop ffs” - what? Stop my ds’s symptoms flaring up and causing him pain? Yes please, I’ll take some of that! Smile

OppsUpsSide · 21/02/2021 20:32

It’s not confusing is it?

CovidCrow · 21/02/2021 20:32

@TaxTheRatFarms

CovidCrow “Just stop ffs” - what? Stop my ds’s symptoms flaring up and causing him pain? Yes please, I’ll take some of that! Smile
I was talking to the OP, obviously.
TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:33

TheKeatingFive

And, as already explained on this very thread, that’s why we vaccinate against viruses that tend to cause long lasting symptoms. There’s no covid vaccination for kids yet.

OliveTree75 · 21/02/2021 20:33

@OppsUpsSide

It’s not confusing is it?
I merely pointed out that your link is about PIMs, not long covid.
CovidCrow · 21/02/2021 20:34

@MaxNormal

Seriously just stop. There are now constant attempts to undermine easing of restrictions and I'm sick of it. You know what is properly shit for children? Destitute parents and a wrecked economy.

👏 👏

TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:34

Obviously CovidCrow
But it does blow my mind that someone can be so callous as to read what my ds is going through and just post “Just stop ffs.”

TheKeatingFive · 21/02/2021 20:36

that’s why we vaccinate against viruses that tend to cause long lasting symptoms.

That’s ... not actually true though.

There are lots of random viruses out there that barely get named let alone a vaccine. I got a virus 10 years ago that wiped me out for two weeks and had symptoms much longer. No idea what it was.

TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:38

MaxNormal and similar “just stop” posters - does it even cross your mind that starting a thread like this to raise awareness of long covid is not a personal attack on you and your liberties?

That’s it’s actually helpful for families who are going through this, and not just another way for nasty evil dementors to steal your freedoms?

It’s just such a weird response to a children’s health issue on a parenting forum.

CovidCrow · 21/02/2021 20:39

@TaxTheRatFarms

Obviously CovidCrow But it does blow my mind that someone can be so callous as to read what my ds is going through and just post “Just stop ffs.”
I'm really really sorry for your DS, I truly am but for the majority of children, covid poses no risk. They cannot go on like this forever, they need to go back to school and they need it soon. Post viral fatigue has always been a thing and it always will be. I hope your DS is better soon Thanks
OppsUpsSide · 21/02/2021 20:41

I merely pointed out that your link is about PIMs, not long covid.

Right. Suggesting there is a potential risk of either complication for children who have COVID, which is not a comforting thought (for some). I didn’t realise that someone might find that confusing but happy to agree to disagree. Brew

kingat · 21/02/2021 20:44

@MaxNormal

Seriously just stop. There are now constant attempts to undermine easing of restrictions and I'm sick of it. You know what is properly shit for children? Destitute parents and a wrecked economy.
This

OP
Did you not have the same post removed earlier today?

TaxTheRatFarms · 21/02/2021 20:44

Thanks CovidCrow Flowers
Unfortunately what he has is not just “post viral fatigue” as there are other complications causing him pain and weird flare ups, but I know what you mean. I’m also not advocating for schools to be closed for longer or anyone’s life to be put more on hold. More focus on how this disease affects children and how they could be helped would be great. I’m don’t think that has to be an either/or. Smile

(Also I would apologise for ranting, but I think any mum in my position would be the same, so thank you all for your patience Grin )

EnemyOfEducationNo1 · 21/02/2021 20:46

evidence.nihr.ac.uk/themedreview/living-with-covid19/

Long Covid is definitely a thing. In fact it may be damage (possibly long term - we just don't know yet) to various organ systems.
In the secondary school I work in, we have several previously fit and healthy (and not overweight) pupils who are still struggling with symptoms and relapses months after infection. I have 3 just in my classes.

It's just that people don't like to think about it, so try to suppress any talk about it.

PracticingPerson · 21/02/2021 20:48

I'm sure we can all find someone who caught something random that caused problems, but rare viruses are a false comparison as they not widespread. But covid rate is at around 1 in 115 people, falling currently, but rising again once schools open.

Anyone who isn't just a small amount interested in whether their children could be harmed is, IMO, quite odd. I'm not panicking, my kids have had covid once, but I wouldn't want them to catch glandular fever and I wouldn't want them to suffer from long covid either.

mac12 · 21/02/2021 20:50

Some of the responses on this thread will not age well. We will be able to put them in the same bin as casedemic, just the flu and no second wave.
So sorry to the posters whose kids are sick. Solidarity to you, the gaslighting & minimising is unreal.

PracticingPerson · 21/02/2021 20:50

It's just that people don't like to think about it, so try to suppress any talk about it.

I agree this is behind everyone who tries to shut any conversations down - they are emotionally incapable of discussing it for mental health reasons of their own.

OliveTree75 · 21/02/2021 20:54

@PracticingPerson

I'm sure we can all find someone who caught something random that caused problems, but rare viruses are a false comparison as they not widespread. But covid rate is at around 1 in 115 people, falling currently, but rising again once schools open.

Anyone who isn't just a small amount interested in whether their children could be harmed is, IMO, quite odd. I'm not panicking, my kids have had covid once, but I wouldn't want them to catch glandular fever and I wouldn't want them to suffer from long covid either.

I think it is because there are other ways to be "harmed", and many parents feel that school closures are more harmful to their kids. People will have thought about the risks of covid to their kids (and worried about it at some point) and then weighed up the evidence and still feel like lockdowns, school closures and mental health problems are a bigger concern. So they are worried, just not in the same way as you.
namechange63524 · 21/02/2021 20:57

@TaxTheRatFarms

MaxNormal and similar “just stop” posters - does it even cross your mind that starting a thread like this to raise awareness of long covid is not a personal attack on you and your liberties?

That’s it’s actually helpful for families who are going through this, and not just another way for nasty evil dementors to steal your freedoms?

It’s just such a weird response to a children’s health issue on a parenting forum.

Well said
gigity · 21/02/2021 20:58

that’s why we vaccinate against viruses that tend to cause long lasting symptoms.

Do we though? Pneumonia & glandular fever aren't normally vaccinated in kids are they?

gigity · 21/02/2021 21:00

I think it is because there are other ways to be "harmed", and many parents feel that school closures are more harmful to their kids. People will have thought about the risks of covid to their kids (and worried about it at some point) and then weighed up the evidence and still feel like lockdowns, school closures and mental health problems are a bigger concern. So they are worried, just not in the same way as you.

Agree

TheKeatingFive · 21/02/2021 21:00

People will have thought about the risks of covid to their kids (and worried about it at some point) and then weighed up the evidence and still feel like lockdowns, school closures and mental health problems are a bigger concern. So they are worried, just not in the same way as you.

Exactly

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 21/02/2021 21:02

@TheKeatingFive

I believe the definition of ‘long Covid’ she’s using is symptoms after 4/5 weeks. Not unusual for a viral disease.
Agree
JS87 · 21/02/2021 21:03

@gigity

that’s why we vaccinate against viruses that tend to cause long lasting symptoms.

Do we though? Pneumonia & glandular fever aren't normally vaccinated in kids are they?

Actually the pneumococcal vaccine is one of the routine childhood vaccines given to babies.