Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40270969›Full record

Observational studyFrontiers in immunology2025

Long COVID in pediatric age: an observational, prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study in Italy.

Susanna Esposito, Matteo Puntoni, Michela Deolmi, Greta Ramundo, Giuseppe Maglietta, Marco Poeta, Stefania Zampogna, Claudia Colomba, Agnese Suppiej, Fabio Cardinale and 14 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Susanna EspositoPediatric Clinic, University Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Matteo PuntoniClinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Michela DeolmiPediatric Clinic, University Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Greta RamundoPediatric Clinic, University Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Giuseppe MagliettaClinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Marco PoetaPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Maternal and Childealth, University Hospital "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Stefania ZampognaDepartment Pediatrics, Hospital of Crotone, Crotone, Italy.
Claudia ColombaDivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, "G. Di Cristina" Hospital, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Agnese SuppiejPediatric Clinic, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Fabio CardinaleComplex Operating Unit Paediatrics, Giovanni XXIII Paediatric Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Samantha BosisS.C. Pediatria-Pneumoinfettivologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Elio CastagnolaPediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Fabio MidullaDepartment of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Carlo GiaquintoDivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Paola GiordanoDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Pediatric Section, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Giacomo BiasucciPediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy.
Valentina FainardiPediatric Clinic, University Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Francesco NunziataPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Maternal and Childealth, University Hospital "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Roberto GrandinettiPediatric Clinic, University Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Anna CondemiDivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, "G. Di Cristina" Hospital, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Giuseppe RaiolaDepartment of Pediatrics, "Pugliese-Ciaccio" Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy.
Alfredo GuarinoPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Maternal and Childealth, University Hospital "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Caterina CaminitiClinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Long-Covid-Ped Italian Study Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: This observational prospective longitudinal multicenter study examines the occurrence and characteristics of long COVID (LC) in the Italian pediatric population. Methods: Conducted across 12 Pediatric Units in Italy from January to March 2022, the study involved 1129 children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires at 1-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months post-infection, with LC defined as symptoms persisting for at least 2 months and occurring 3 months post-diagnosis. Results: Results revealed that 68.6% of children reported at least one post-COVID symptom, with 16.2% experiencing LC. The most frequent symptoms included respiratory issues (43.4%), neurological and cognitive dysfunction (27.7%), gastrointestinal symptoms (22.1%), fatigue (21.6%), and sleep disturbances (18.8%). Age and gender differences were significant, with older children and females more prone to cardiovascular and neurological & cognitive dysfunction. Discussion: The study highlights that LC in children presents similarly to adults, though less frequently. The occurrence of LC was lower compared to adult populations, likely due to the generally milder course of COVID-19 in children. The findings underscore the need for targeted follow-up and support for affected children, especially considering the long-term persistence of symptoms. Further research is necessary to explore the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on pediatric LC and the effects of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. These insights are crucial for developing strategies to manage and mitigate long-term impacts in children recovering from COVID-19.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2AdolescentAge FactorsChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantItalyLongitudinal StudiesMaleProspective Studieslong COVIDneurological dysfunctionpediatric infectious diseasespost-COVID symptomsSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40270969
PMCPMC12015939

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.