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Cough symptoms in children following COVID-19: a single-center retrospective study
Ling Liu1, Lu Zhang1, Pengxiang Zhou2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Insights
Children with allergic diseases experienced prolonged and more severe coughs after COVID-19 infection. Allergic conditions are a key factor in post-COVID cough duration and intensity in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Allergology
Background:
- Cough is a common symptom in pediatric mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Limited data exists on the duration and severity of COVID-19-related cough in children.
- The impact of allergic diseases on these cough symptoms is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between cough severity and duration with overall disease duration in children with allergic diseases following COVID-19.
- To identify factors influencing prolonged or severe cough post-COVID-19 infection in pediatric populations.
- To assess the specific role of allergic conditions in the persistence and intensity of cough after mild COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, retrospective case-control study involving 686 children aged 0-16 years.
- Questionnaire surveys collected weekly cough scores for 8 weeks post-COVID-19 infection.
- Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests analyzed cough duration differences; stepwise regression assessed influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Children with allergic diseases showed significantly longer cough durations post-COVID-19 compared to those without (log-rank test, P=.002).
- Having more than one allergic condition was strongly linked to coughing for over 4 weeks (P<.001).
- Allergic disease emerged as the primary factor associated with 8-week cough duration and increased cough severity (P<.001).
Conclusions:
- Allergic diseases significantly contribute to prolonged and more severe cough symptoms in children recovering from mild COVID-19.
- The presence and number of allergic conditions are critical determinants of post-COVID-19 cough characteristics in pediatric patients.
- Healthcare providers should consider underlying allergic conditions when managing persistent cough in children after COVID-19.
Background:
Cough is the most common respiratory symptom in children with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, evidence regarding the duration and severity of COVID-19-related cough is sparse. Herein, we investigated the correlation between cough severity/duration and disease duration in children with allergic diseases following COVID-19.
Methods:
This single-center, retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, from February 6-13, 2023. Children aged 0-16 completed a questionnaire survey collecting basic information and weekly cough scores for 8 consecutive weeks after COVID-19 in December 2022. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw event curves, and the log-rank method was used to compare inter-group differences. Stepwise regression was applied for multivariate analysis of correlations between age, sex, allergic diseases, and the degree and duration of cough following COVID-19.
Results:
Overall, 686 children were included, of whom 183 (26.7%) had allergic diseases and 503 (73.3%) did not. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified significant differences between patients with and without allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.002) and between patients with no allergic disease and those with one and more than one allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.003). Multivariate regression identified a link between the presence of more than one allergic disease and coughing for >4 weeks after infection (P < 0.001). Allergic disease was the primary factor linked to cough symptoms lasting 8 weeks and cough severity (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Allergic disease contributes to the prolonged duration and severity of coughing in children with mild COVID-19.
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