Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41044760›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2025

Experiences of living with long COVID during childhood and adolescence: a qualitative study from the child's perspective.

Emmy Lillieberg, Per Ertzgaard, Eva Fernlund, Karel Duchen, Patrik Rytterström, Charlotte Angelhoff

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Emmy LilliebergDepartment of Paediatrics in Jönköping, Barnkliniken, Länssjukhuset Ryhov, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, 551 85, Sweden. emmy.lillieberg@rjl.se.
Per ErtzgaardDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine in Linköping and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linkoping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Eva FernlundDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Crown Princess Victoria Children´s Hospital, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Karel DuchenDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Allergy Center in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Patrik RytterströmDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden.
Charlotte AngelhoffDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Allergy Center in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn February 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined long COVID in children, highlighting limited knowledge about its psychosocial impact. Studies show it as a complex, long-lasting condition affecting multiple systems. WHO and researchers emphasise the need for more understanding, particularly its effect on daily life. The aim of this study was to explore how life is experienced and how it changed whilst living with long COVID during childhood.

methodsWe present a qualitative study with an inductive and exploratory approach. Between October 2022 and March 2024, 16 children between 9 and 18 years old diagnosed with long COVID were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured interview guide. The results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke.

resultsThe results present the subjective reality of children suffering from long COVID and their struggle in daily life. The findings are presented through three themes: Losing my foothold, Fatigue decides my path, and My way forward, illustrating a temporal and emotional journey, reflecting how children make sense of their experiences, adapt to the persistent impact of long COVID, and gradually move toward acceptance.

conclusionsThis study addresses the lack of knowledge of long COVID in the society, how it affects children in their struggle to find a new path in life. It also shows that, with knowledge and support, the symptoms and the burden of the condition can decrease or even pass. It is important that people around these children, including health care, school and family, use this knowledge to promote health and avoid educational, health and social problems at a vulnerable time in life.

Indexed as

COVID-19Adaptation, PsychologicalAdolescentChildChronic DiseaseFatigueFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2ChildCOVID 19Health careLong-term illnessPaediatricsPost-acute COVID-19 syndromePost-COVID-19 among children

Identifiers

PMID41044760
PMCPMC12492641

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LicenceCC BY
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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.