More needs to be known about long Covid in children says Scarborough lecturer
A group of parents whose children are living with the effects of Long Covid are warning not enough is known about the long term impact of the virus to open schools safely.
A group of parents whose children are living with the effects of Long Covid are warning not enough is known about the long term impact of the virus to open schools safely.
Families says the symptoms experienced by children are different to those experienced by adults.
Frances Simpson's son and daughter got the virus last March, and are not yet back to full health.
She is the co-founder of the group Long Covid Kids and also lectures Psychology at the Coventry University campus in Scarborough.
Frances said:
"We have children who are in wheelchairs, we have children who have developed Tourette's, some have had seizures and just some very debilitating, scary symptoms. I think there needs to be an honest discussion around that in order for us to make safe choices about our schools and our children.
"I think there are two issues around schools; the issue of those children who have Long Covid, being able to identify children with Long Covid, being able to make provision for those children, and there's the other side of it which is keeping schools safe and preventing more children from becoming ill with Long Covid.
"Those children who are now in wheelchairs or those children who now experiencing extreme fatigue, there's no question about those children going back to school and I think again, it's really important that this narrative is out there for parents to be able to have positive communication with schools around the way forward for those children."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“We are working with the UK’s leading scientists on an ongoing basis to improve our collective understanding of the knock on effects of long-Covid and to make sure we have the best treatments available – including the impact it has on all ages.
“New specialist long-Covid NHS clinics have opened across the country, providing assessment for adults, children and young people alike. These clinics will be play an invaluable role by helping medical experts to assess, diagnose and treat thousands of people suffering with the debilitating long-term health implications of this virus.”