ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2026
"It's sad, and I want to go back to how things were before": a qualitative study of young people's experiences of living with long COVID.
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLong COVID is a newly recognised condition that also affects children and young people (CYP). However, little is known about how it impacts their daily lives and well-being from their own perspective. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of CYP living with long COVID.
methodsSwedish-speaking CYP who developed long COVID before the age of 18 years were invited to participate in semistructured interviews. Between February and September 2024, seven CYP (four girls and three boys) participated (mean interview duration=51 min). Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify codes and then themes with related subthemes.
resultsTwo main themes were generated. The first main theme 'I am stumbling in the dark: Living with unpredictability and limitations' covers how CYP were affected by the consequences of long COVID. The subtheme 'How do I live and function now?
conclusionsLong COVID negatively impacted the CYP's lives, affecting their relationships, education, leisure activities and sense of identity. Dismissive and sceptical attitudes from professionals and peers substantially increased the burden, whereas encountering acceptance and knowledgeable professionals facilitated coping with long COVID.
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