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Published on: September 19, 2025

Impact of COVID-19 on Subsequent Lung Function in Childhood: A Systematized Review

Benedetta De Santis1, Francesca Baldo1, Giovanni Vento1,2

  • 1Department of Mother, Child and Public Health, Division of Neonatology, Neonatal Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" Rome Italy.

Health Science Reports
|July 9, 2026
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 in children may cause mild, transient lung function changes, but evidence is mixed. Severe infections might impact pulmonary function, though this is rare in pediatric cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) can alter lung function in adults.
  • Respiratory outcomes post-COVID-19 in children are not well-established.
  • Understanding pediatric lung function after SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and summarize evidence on respiratory outcomes after COVID-19 in children.
  • To analyze findings from post-COVID-19 lung function tests (LFTs) in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a literature search on Medline and Cochrane databases for studies published between 2019 and 2025.
  • Identified 347 publications, selecting 20 for review.
  • Included studies utilizing various LFTs such as spirometry, diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide, and 6-minute walking tests.

Main Results:

  • Five studies found no association between COVID-19 and respiratory outcomes.
  • Other studies reported mild, reversible obstructive patterns or restrictive patterns, especially in long-COVID cases.
  • Pulmonary function may be influenced by the initial severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence suggests COVID-19 may lead to mild, transient lung function changes in children.
  • No clear association was found in some studies, while others indicated potential impacts from severe infections.
  • High heterogeneity among studies regarding COVID-19 severity, age groups, LFT details, and follow-up duration limits definitive conclusions.
Abstract

Keywords:
SARS‐CoV‐2infantpediatricpulmonary function test

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