Long-COVID-like symptoms in children are just as common after RSV and flu
In 5,740 Turkish children, about one in five still had symptoms 4 to 6 weeks after RSV, influenza or COVID-19, but the type of symptom depended on the virus.
Persistent symptoms after infection are best known from long COVID, but this retrospective cohort from a tertiary hospital system in Istanbul compared three viruses directly. It included 5,740 children with PCR-confirmed RSV, SARS-CoV-2 or influenza, seen between 2020 and 2024.
At a follow-up visit 4 to 6 weeks later, persistent symptoms were documented in 24.0% after RSV, 22.0% after SARS-CoV-2 and 21.2% after influenza, a difference that was not statistically significant. The patterns differed, though. RSV was linked to respiratory and feeding problems in young infants, SARS-CoV-2 to neurocognitive and systemic complaints in school-aged children, and influenza to sustained systemic symptoms.
This is a retrospective, single-region study relying on clinician-documented follow-up, so it shows associations and may be affected by who attended follow-up visits.
Summary prepared with AI assistance from the published abstract and reviewed by a physician. Not medical advice. Learn more
