Long COVID in kids is real and widespread. It’s not "rare". Far more than 200k are affected. This latest survey aligns with previous data, but it’s likely an undercount(noted by the authors as a limitation) due to reliance on parental reporting. Kids often struggle to articulate symptoms. Pediatric Long COVID has been ignored despite millions suffering debilitating effects.
Note: I work on NIH efforts to cure Long COVID called RECOVER, RECOVER-TLC, and help non-profits dedicated towards viral persistence/immune dysfunction hypotheses.
given lack of success with ME/CFS, do you think we'll fare any better this time?
post-viral syndromes have been with us for a long time.
outside of very clear sequelae like definitive texbook case of autoimmune disease or something obvious like that - we don't really know how to treat them?
we now have novel technology being used like PET scanning, T cell biosensors, and single molecule ultrasensitive assays.
Antigen/superantigen persistence is shared and may be treated with extended courses of antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, immune modulators, and even trying checkpoint inhibitors to reverse T cell exhaustion.
the textbook is being rewritten and a key publication on how to treat at least Long COVID based on what I mentioned above will come out next week. NIH will launch their trials very soon likely announcing in March.