80,000 children suffering from long covid according to The Times

[TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/forgotten-children-living-long-covid-s0c6z0f20?shareToken=6c717c513ba7b50cbe110801c4fd27f8

I'm on the app so unable to copy text - but it seems that according to the ONS 13-15% of children who caught COVID still have symptoms over 5 weeks later, some of them life changing.

The fact that 4% of children from 2 to 11 years and 5.7% of children from 12 to 16 years continue coughing for more than 5 weeks from getting Covid does not mean they are "suffering".

To be clear: when I talk about ds “suffering” with long covid/post covid syndrome, I don’t mean he’s had a bit of a cough for a year. I mean he’s had ongoing, painful inflammatory symptoms for a year.

I do agree though that the reporting doesn’t help the cause at all, with the “bit of a cough after 5 weeks” thrown in with “requires ongoing medical treatment up to a year after infection”. People see it as hyperbole and disregard it.

Exactly @TaxTheRatFarms that’s why a better distinction needs to be made between people with lingering mild symptoms for a few weeks post-infection and people with life changing illness that lasts much longer.

@Taxtheratfarms I agree. I feel for your son. I had Covid in March last year and am left with chest pain and shortness of breath I used to be very fit and exercise regularly but now I can't do any cardio. I am under the long Covid clinic so at least I am getting some help and recognition but it is very frustrating when Long Covid is dismissed so flippantly by people. Hope he recovers soon.

I am sitting on the fence on this one as we don't have enough information to know one way or the other. We have no way of knowing whether in 2 or 5 years time what proportion of these symptoms will have resolved. It is good that this is being observed and discussed meanwhile.

Thanks Kitcat Sorry to hear it’s still affecting you too. It truly is an embuggerance! Are you finding the Long Covid clinic useful?

@Babdoc sorry to hear you are still struggling, you were a rock on the March lungs threads.

Still suffering myself but had good results from a private respiratory consultant and just started The Perrin technique with high hopes. Take care.

5 weeks isn’t long!

My youngest took longer recovering from chicken pox!

I'm certainly not a long covid denier, I work with people who's condition has now been defined as long covid.
The stats in that article aren't helpful and will just stoke fear. 1 symptom five weeks after diagnosis does not mean the child is suffering from LC.
LC does exist. Some children will develop it. But we need to keep the risk in perspective.

We are insane really not putting masks on primary kids and imo will be questioned by that generation later if they do have long term effects.

This.

Even if the long term organ damage is only a maybe, a mask for a few months seems a small price to pay to save children from that.