Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41642863›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Children and adolescents: Respiratory infection and long-term effects longitudinal study (CARE Study): Study protocol.

Mark McMillan, Rebecca Beazley, Nan Vasilunas, Thomas R Sullivan, Tess Edmond, Ailish Battersby, Philip N Britton, Brendan McMullan, Jon Jureidini, Sarah Del Fante and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Mark McMillanUniversity Department of Paediatrics, Women's and Children's Hospital Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6490-7707
Rebecca BeazleyCommunicable Disease Control Branch, South Australia Health, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Nan VasilunasInfectious Disease Department, Women's and Children's Hospital Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Thomas R SullivanWomen and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Tess EdmondDepartment of General Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Ailish BattersbyDepartment of General Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Philip N BrittonDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology & Child and Adolescent Health, Children's Hospital Westmead, Westmead, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2993-6000
Brendan McMullanDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Jon JureidiniCritical and Ethical Mental Health (CEMH), Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Sarah Del FanteCommunicable Disease Control Branch, South Australia Health, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Helen S MarshallUniversity Department of Paediatrics, Women's and Children's Hospital Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection can extend beyond the acute phase of the illness, often described as Long COVID, post-COVID condition (PCC) or Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC). Post-acute sequelae (PAS) are also likely to be a problem for a small proportion of children and adolescents following influenza infection. However, there is no comprehensive ongoing data collection in Australian children and adolescents, and global data on both PCC during the SARS-Cov-2 Omicron variant period and PAS following influenza is limited.

aimThis study aims to determine the cumulative incidence of PCC in Australian children and adolescents five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary aims include identifying the cumulative incidence of PAS in children and adolescents following influenza infection.

methodsThis longitudinal cohort study will recruit children and adolescents aged 0-18 years in South Australia who tested positive for SARS-Cov-2 or influenza in the previous 2 months. Following consent, participants will complete an online baseline survey and then at 3, 6, and 12 months post-infection. The survey has been adapted from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) Paediatric COVID-19 follow-up survey. The survey includes validated assessment tools such as the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and the Malmö Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Score questionnaire. PCC following COVID-19 and PAS following influenza infection will be identified according to an adapted World Health Organization definition of PCC in children and adolescents. DISCUSSION: This study addresses gaps in understanding PCC and PAS following influenza in children and adolescents during Omicron circulation. Whilst it is no longer feasible to prospectively compare post-acute sequelae in children and adolescents who have never had COVID-19, this design allows a comparison with another common viral infection, influenza, informing clinical management of children post-infection.

Indexed as

COVID-19Influenza, HumanRespiratory Tract InfectionsAdolescentAustraliaChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornLongitudinal StudiesMalePandemicsPost-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Identifiers

PMID41642863
PMCPMC12875511

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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.