Prevalence and Symptom Profile of Long COVID among Schoolchildren in Vietnam
Trang Thu Vu,
Khanh Cong Nguyen,
Hieu Thi Nguyen,
Anh Hoang,
Nghia Duy Ngu,
Duong Nhu Tran,
Hoa Bich Phan,
Ha Thi Thu Nguyen,
Thai Quang Pham,
Florian Vogt
Affiliations
Trang Thu Vu
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Khanh Cong Nguyen
Department of Communicable Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hieu Thi Nguyen
Thai Nguyen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam
Anh Hoang
Thai Nguyen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam
Nghia Duy Ngu
Department of Communicable Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Duong Nhu Tran
Department of Communicable Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hoa Bich Phan
Thai Nguyen District Health Center, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam
Ha Thi Thu Nguyen
Thai Nguyen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam
Thai Quang Pham
Department of Communicable Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Florian Vogt
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Background: Long COVID is a recognized condition that can follow SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has been primarily observed and studied in adults. Evidence on long COVID among children is scarce. We aimed to estimate its prevalence and symptom profile among schoolchildren, and its effects on studying, daily activities, and quality of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among caregivers of 2226 schoolchildren aged 12–17 in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, from 11 April to 16 May 2023 using WHO definitions and a validated quality of life questionnaire. Results: Among 1507 children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection ≥ 5 months prior, 85 (5.6%) had long COVID. Memory loss (85.9%), poor concentration capacity (58.8%), and fatigue (57.6%) were their most common symptoms. They reported more frequent interference with their studies, observed differences in school absence rates, reduced daily activities, worsened overall health status, and relatively higher utilization of health services compared with children who only suffered from acute COVID-19 symptoms after infection. Conclusions: Given the near-ubiquitous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among children at this stage of the pandemic, our findings contribute invaluable evidence of an emerging public health burden among the pediatric population in Vietnam and globally. Concerted public health measures are needed to reduce long-term impacts on health, education, and wellbeing.
