Long COVID in Children

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Long COVID is a chronic condition that can affect children, adolescents, and adults, and can lead to significant disruption in physical activity, education, athletic achievement, and social skills development.

Long COVID occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.

Can be new onset following initial recovery or can persist from the initial illness.
Can occur after infection of any severity including asymptomatic infection. Can affect children of all ages including infants and toddlers.
Can have an impact on everyday functioning such as changes in eating habits, physical activity, behavior, academic performance, social functions and developmental milestones.

AAP Recommendations

Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Policy Statement: 2026 AAP Policy Statement and Technical Report

More About the Science

Learn more about Long COVID epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis and management considerations in children and adolescents.

Learn More

Professional Tools and Resources

2024 NASEM Long COVID Definition and Report

Created to aid clinicians in the consistent diagnosis, documentation, and treatment of Long COVID; encourage further research; enhance patient access to appropriate care; and raise awareness and educate the public about Long COVID.

AAPM&R Long COVID Compendium Report

Compendium developed by a multidisciplinary collaborative of experts to help clinicians evaluate and manage adults experiencing Long COVID symptoms and provides symptom-specific considerations. 

RECOVER-TLC Clinical Trial Hub

This next arm of the NIH RECOVER initiative will evaluate treatments for Long COVID across all populations.

Additional Related Infection Associated Chronic Condition Resources:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer: Best single reference for pediatric ME/CFS. Illness is described, possible pathogenesis, approach to diagnosis and management, and differential diagnosis. Consensus opinion of experts in pediatric ME/CFS.
Community Developed Resource Guide for Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions: Resource for infection associated conditions geared mostly towards patients, nice compilation/summary of how to approach the resources, how to advocate etc.
Bateman Horne Center Clinical Care Guide for ME/CFS, Long COVID and IACCs: Released in 2025, this is a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals about infection-associated chronic conditions (IACC) pathophysiology, evaluation, management.

Resources for Families

Long Covid Families Website

Long Covid Families empowers children and families affected by infection-associated conditions. Accelerates pediatric research and ensure safe and appropriate access to education and essential medical care.

AAPM&R Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Initiative

Central repository for resources created by AAPMR including clinician note templates (submitted as a separate resource per spreadsheet), there is also MH guidance statement, neuro symptoms, pediatrics guidance, autonomic dysfunction guidance, CV complications guidance, fatigue guidance, breathing discomfort and cognitive symptoms.

Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID Condition

Plain language CAN-PCC consensus recommendations regarding prevention and treatment of Long COVID, presented in various user-friendly formats.

CMSS Long COVID Education, Engagement, and Care Management

Long COVID Education, Engagement, and Care Management seeks to provide multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration across medical societies to improve provider education and engagement in the care of patients with Long COVID.

CMSS Long COVID Resource Repository

The Long COVID Repository is intended to serve as a reference for primary care clinicians to recognize, diagnose, and treat Long COVID. The Repository provides links to more detailed information and source documents and may need to be updated as additional resources and tools are developed and published.

The CMSS Long COVID Education, Engagement, and Care Management program was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number CDC-RFA-IP21-2111, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last Updated

09/02/2026

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