Clinical Epidemiology of Pediatric Coronavirus Disease 2019 and its Postacute Sequelae

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected individuals of all ages. Although children generally experience a benign illness from COVID-19, the emergence of novel virus variants has significantly changed the morbidity and mortality rates for this age group. Currently, COVID-19 is the eighth leading cause of pediatric deaths in the United States. In addition to acute respiratory illness, some children can develop a severe postinfectious condition known as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can progress to rapid-onset cardiogenic shock. Recovery from COVID-19 can also be slow for some children, resulting in persistent or reoccurring symptoms for months, commonly referred to as long COVID. These postinfectious sequelae are often distressing for children and their parents, can negatively impact the quality of life, and impose a considerable burden on the health care system. This article reviews the clinical epidemiology of pediatric COVID-19 and outlines the management considerations for its acute and post-acute manifestations.