Medical and social consequences of COVID-19 for Russian children: results of a survey of parents

Aim: to identify medical and social features of children of different age groups who suffered from COVID-19.

Materials and methods. A survey of legal representatives of minors was conducted during 2020–2022. Eleven thousand twenty five 1 year to 17 years children were included in the study. Study design: single-center, non-randomized, uncontrolled study.

Results. Among chronic pathology over all time periods, diseases of the respiratory system (allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma), endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, overweight and obesity), and skin and subcutaneous tissue (atopic dermatitis) occupied the first places. The vast majority of COVID-19 children showed a variety of symptoms, the most common being fever over 38°C, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and cough. Most parents believed that their child had a full recovery from COVID-19, which most often occurred after 1–2 weeks or 6 months or more. At the same time, most indicators of children’s functioning remained unchanged. Negative dynamics was observed in such signs as appetite, physical activity and performance. The most widespread specific consequences of the previous infection were impaired lung function, asthenic syndrome, and decreased psychophysical functioning.

Conclusion. The identified specific and non-specific consequences of COVID-19 determine the need to manage comprehensive rehabilitation for children. Along with medical rehabilitation measures, the rehabilitation program should include psychological and pedagogical assistance to optimize the regime of psychophysical load and the implementation of relaxation classes aimed at stabilizing the emotional state, increasing the dynamic characteristics of higher mental functions.

Contribution of authors:
Fisenko A.P., Lazurenko S.B., Timofeeva A.G. — concept and design of the study;
Sviridova T.V., Makarova S.G. — collection and processing of material;
Terletskaya R.N., Sviridova T.V. — statistical processing;
Lazurenko S.B., Terletskaya R.N. — writing the text;
Lazurenko S.B., Makarova S.G. — editing the text.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Financing. The study had no sponsor support. Performed within the framework of the State Assignment to the Russian Academy of Education No. 075-00693-23-00 dated 27.12.2022.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: June 14, 2023
Accepted: June 20, 2023
Published: August 31, 2023

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