Pre-Pandemic Prevalence of Post COVID-19 Condition Symptoms in Adolescents

The emergence of post COVID-19 condition (PCC) within adolescents has been characterised by a wide range of symptoms, raising concerns for young people's health and quality of life. However, many symptoms are non-specific and there is considerable variation in symptom reporting. It is essential to understand how rates of these symptoms compare to the pre-pandemic health of adolescents.

A systematic search of academic literature and websites, using traditional and automated search systems, was undertaken to identify symptoms described in adolescents aged 10-19 years in the 30 years up to and including 2019. Studies were reviewed and symptom prevalence data extracted.

Twenty-five sources (n = 483 097 participants) met the inclusion criteria, including longitudinal and cross-sectional study designs. The description and prevalence of symptoms varied widely, but there was a high pre-pandemic median prevalence of cough (13.6%), headache (30.0%), and fatigue (20.5%). These high prevalences highlight a gap in understanding of pre-pandemic adolescent health and the need for comprehensive, serial symptom profiling.

These findings provide a baseline of adolescent symptomatology prior to the emergence of PCC and provide important context for interpreting ongoing COVID symptoms. Data on PCC in adolescents should consider pre-pandemic symptom prevalence.