Medical experts have warned of an unprecedented rise in the number of children experiencing long-term effects of the COVID-19 disease. According to experts, the trend is being witnessed due to a global surge in COVID-19 infections among children.

Speaking to the media, doctors have noted easing of travel restrictions is also one of the main reasons for the trend. Furthermore, as many young people are unable to receive the vaccine, they are getting infected by the disease more than other age groups.

Professor Philip Fischer, a paediatrician based in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, said that the authorities can expect long COVID-19 impact in children as being seen in other countries. He made these remarks on the sidelines of the Arab Heath trade exhibition in Dubai’s World Trade Centre

“Long COVID-19 is an issue but it is not prevalent yet. We have seen an increase in inflammatory issues among children that have tested positive," he said.

Professor Fischer added that common symptoms of long COVID-19 include fatigue, dizziness and brain fog. He explained that brain fog is an inability to think straight. All community members have been asked to be aware of these symptoms to protect the young people in the country.

“I am expecting to see more children infected but hopefully not as many getting sick and dying as we saw in adults,” he added.

Professor Fischer pointed out that children are just as vulnerable as anyone else who has not received the COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, children with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to the disease.

Global studies have also shown an increase in the number of cases of long Covid-19 among children. A team of international scientists carried out a study on over 500 children admitted to a Moscow hospital after getting infected with COVID-19 earlier this year. The study was conducted by the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (Isaric). According to the results, almost a quarter of children (24 per cent) experienced symptoms more than five months after being discharged from the hospital.

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently published data, suggesting that 13 percent of children under the age of 11 and about 15 percent of 12-to 16-year-olds reported at least one symptom five weeks after recovering from the disease.

Dr Sandeep Kuchi, paediatrics specialist with Aster Hospital, Al Qusais, said a very small number of children who recently recovered from COVID-19 had a condition called mis-c (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children). While no exact data on the number of children affected by the condition is available now, the doctor asserted that the case numbers are not very significant.

“All over the world the number of children being infected with COVID-19 is increasing but there is no need to panic. The severity of infection among children has been much less so far compared to adults," the doctor added.

Dr Danny Alsalloum, paediatrician at Dubai-based Medcare Women and Children Hospital, long Covid is much noticeable among teenagers than small children.

“The majority of cases involve symptoms of a gastric problem or fatigue," Dr Alsalloum added.