Most Teens Recover from Long COVID After Two Years
Research offers encouraging news for families grappling with the long-term effects of COVID-19. A new study in Nature Communications Medicine focusing on adolescents and Long COVID found that the majority recover within two years.
Good News for Teens, But More Research Needed
The study, conducted by researchers from the National COVID-19 impact on children and vulnerable populations, revealed that 70% of young people diagnosed with Long COVID had fully recovered two years after their initial diagnosis. Sixty-eight teenagers, however, were experiencing lingering effects of the illness.
The data came from the National Long COVID in Children and Young People (Clock) study through the United Kingdom. Researchers followed a cohort of 943 young people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and regularly monitored their symptoms over a 24-month span.
“Our findings show that for teenagers who fulfilled our research definition of Long COVID three months after a positive test for the COVID virus, the majority have recovered after two years. This is good news, but we intend to do further research to try to better understand why 68 teenagers had not recovered.”
Study Details
The study analyzed participants’ self-reported symptoms at four intervals: three months, six months, 12 months, and 24 months post-infection. At the three-month mark, 233 adolescents met the criteria for Long COVID. This decreased to 94 at 12 months. By the two-year mark, 165 of the 233 participants had recovered, signifying a 70% recovery rate.
Researchers are investigating the reasons behind the 30% still experiencing Long COVID symptoms. More research on this group is paramount.
Physics of Long COVID
Previous studies have linked Long COVID to various factors, including persistent viral fragments or the lingering effects of an overactive immune response triggered by the initial infection.
Vaccines Show Promise in Treating Long COVID
Another new study recently published in *eClinicalMedicine* offered more positive news about the long-term ramifications of COVID-19.
Researchers in this study looked specifically at the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) in preventing Long COVID in children and adolescents, particularly during the Delta and Omicron surges.
The study
The study, conducted across 20 health clearances, tracked over 289,000 children armed with data from 20 health systems across the United States, finding:
*
among adolescents, and 60.1% effective in reducing Long COVID among children during Omicron dominance.
The study continued:
* Vaccination
* and during the
This signifies the vaccine’s significant potential for prevention and provides hope for reducing Long COVID emergence, especially in light of the ongoing Omicron variants.
What percentage of adolescents in the study fully recovered from Long COVID within two years?
## Teen Long COVID Recovery: A Glimmer of Hope
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is Dr. [Alex Reed name], lead researcher on a groundbreaking new study published in Nature Communications Medicine. Dr. [Alex Reed name], thank you so much for being here.
**Dr. [Alex Reed name]:** It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Your study offers some encouraging news for families dealing with the long-term effects of COVID-19. Can you tell us about your findings?
**Dr. [Alex Reed name]:** Absolutely. Our study focused on adolescents who were diagnosed with Long COVID. We followed 943 young people for two years after a positive COVID-19 test, regularly monitoring their symptoms.
The good news is that 70% of those diagnosed with Long COVID fully recovered within two years. This suggests that for the majority of teens, Long COVID symptoms are not permanent.
**Host:** That is certainly reassuring. Were there any specific factors that seemed to influence recovery?
**Dr. [Alex Reed name]:** [Explain any key factors identified in the study, if applicable]. We are still analyzing the data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of why some teenagers recover faster than others.
**Host:** Of course. The study also mentioned that 68 teenagers were still experiencing lingering effects after two years. What are the implications of this finding?
**Dr. [Alex Reed name]:** This finding underscores the need for continued research. We need to understand what makes these individuals susceptible to prolonged symptoms and develop targeted interventions to support their recovery.
**Host: ** What message would you give to families who are concerned about Long COVID in their teenagers?
**Dr. [Alex Reed name]:** I would say that while Long COVID is a serious concern, our study offers a hopeful message. For many teenagers, recovery is possible within two years. We encourage families to seek medical attention if they have concerns about Long COVID symptoms. Early intervention and ongoing follow-up can play a crucial role in improving outcomes.
**Host:** Thank you so much, Dr. [Alex Reed name], for shedding light on this important issue. We wish you continued success in your research.
