Post COVID-19 condition and behavioral manifestations in Taiwanese children

BackgroundThis study investigated the prevalence of post COVID-19 condition (PCC) in Taiwanese children, explored common symptoms and behavioral manifestations in children with PCC, and examined potential associations with parental stress and family functioning.MethodsA total of 116 children who had contracted COVID-19 and their parents participated. At 1 month after the confirmed COVID-19 infection (baseline), the parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about the post COVID-19 symptoms, the child behavior checklist (CBCL) based on the child's situation, also the impact event scale of COVID-19 (IES-C) and family APGAR based on the parents' own situation. Three months after the confirmed COVID-19 infection, parents were again asked to complete the same questionnaires as they did at baseline.ResultsResults showed that 44.8% of the children met the criteria for PCC, with the most common symptoms being sputum/nasal congestion, tiredness and decreased concentration. Children without PCC exhibited a significant decrease in CBCL scores during the 2-month follow-up, while no such decrease was observed in children with PCC. However, no significant correlations were found between the number of post COVID-19 symptoms, behavioral manifestations, parental stress levels, and family functioning.ConclusionsChildren with PCC have a less favorable trajectory in improving their behavioral manifestations. Additionally, in the post-pandemic era, post COVID-19 symptoms in children are not necessarily correlated with parental stress and family functioning. Further research is needed to better understand the long-term implications of PCC in children and its impact on their mental well-being, as well as their families.