A NEW large-scale study has revealed that children who contract COVID-19 face a 25% higher risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and disorders in the months following infection. The research analysed data from 1.57 million paediatric patients across 29 U.S. healthcare institutions and found that these GI issues can persist well beyond the initial infection, extending into the chronic phase (6 months to 2 years post-infection).
The study, conducted between March 2020 and September 2023, compared 413,455 children with documented COVID-19 infections to over 1.1 million children without documented infection. Researchers found that 8.64% of COVID-positive children developed at least one GI symptom or disorder in the postacute phase (1 to 6 months after infection), compared to 6.85% in those without COVID-19. Similarly, in the chronic phase (6 months to 2 years post-infection), 12.6% of COVID-positive children experienced ongoing GI issues compared to 9.47% of their COVID-negative peers.
Among the most common post-COVID GI symptoms were abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and nausea, with abdominal pain showing a 14% higher risk in the postacute phase and 24% higher in the chronic phase among children with a history of COVID-19.
These findings underscore the importance of long-term monitoring of paediatric patients recovering from COVID-19. Clinicians are encouraged to remain vigilant when evaluating children with persistent digestive symptoms, as these may be lingering effects of the virus rather than isolated cases.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Zhang D et al. Pediatric Gastrointestinal Tract Outcomes During the Postacute Phase of COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2458366.
