Long COVID in Children Linked to Reduced Blood Flow in Lungs

Medical News: Long COVID is a condition in which symptoms persist long after the initial COVID-19 infection has cleared. This condition is increasingly being observed in children and teenagers, with symptoms lasting for months or even years. Among the most common symptoms reported are fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, heart palpitations, and difficulty concentrating. However, despite these symptoms, standard medical tests often fail to identify any abnormalities, leaving both parents and healthcare providers with few answers.


Long COVID in Children Linked to Reduced Blood Flow in Lungs

Recent research conducted by scientists from Hannover Medical School in Germany suggests that long COVID in children may be linked to reduced blood flow in the lungs. Using an advanced imaging technique called phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI, researchers found that children and adolescents with long COVID had significantly lower blood circulation in their lungs compared to their healthy counterparts.
 
This Medical News report highlights that this finding could explain why many children experience persistent fatigue even though their breathing appears normal in routine tests. The study provides new insights into how long COVID affects lung function and could help in developing better monitoring and treatment strategies for affected children.
 
The Role of PREFUL MRI in Detecting Lung Abnormalities
Traditional imaging techniques such as chest CT scans are commonly used in adults to assess lung health. However, these scans expose individuals to radiation, making them less suitable for children. PREFUL MRI, on the other hand, is a non-invasive technique that allows for the assessment of lung function without the need for radiation or contrast agents. This makes it an ideal method for evaluating pediatric patients with long COVID.
 
In the study, researchers examined 54 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17. Among them, 27 had been diagnosed with long COVID, while the remaining 27 served as healthy controls. The PREFUL MRI scans revealed that those with long COVID exhibited significantly reduced lung perfusion, meaning that blood was not flowing through their lungs as efficiently as in the healthy participants.
 
Key Findings of the Study
-Reduced Lung Perfusion: Children with long COVID had significantly lower blood flow through their lungs. This reduction in lung circulation could explain why these children experience fatigue despite appearing to breathe normally.
 
-Correlation with Fatigue Severity: Researchers found a direct correlation between the severity of fatigue and the degree of blood flow reduction in the lungs. This suggests that impaired lung perfusion may be a primary contributor to persistent fatigue in affected children.
 
-Higher Ventilation and Perfusion Defects: Participants with long COVID also exhibited increased ventilation and perfusion defects, indicating that their lungs were not efficiently exchanging oxygen and carbon d ioxide.
 
-No Significant Differences in Standard Pulmonary Function Tests: Despite these abnormalities, traditional lung function tests such as spirometry showed normal results, emphasizing the importance of advanced imaging techniques like PREFUL MRI in detecting subtle physiological changes.
 
Possible Mechanisms Behind Lung Perfusion Reduction
While the exact mechanisms leading to reduced lung blood flow in children with long COVID remain unclear, researchers propose several possible explanations:
 
-Microvascular Damage: The initial COVID-19 infection may have caused lasting damage to the tiny blood vessels in the lungs, leading to impaired circulation.
 
-Chronic Inflammation: Persistent inflammation in lung tissues could contribute to changes in blood flow regulation.
 
-Residual Clots or Microthrombi: Small blood clots that formed during the acute phase of infection might persist, obstructing normal circulation in the lungs.
 
Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment
The study's findings highlight the need for improved diagnostic methods for children suffering from long COVID. Since standard lung function tests often appear normal, many affected children may be misdiagnosed or have their symptoms dismissed. PREFUL MRI offers a potential solution by providing a clearer picture of lung function abnormalities that traditional tests fail to detect.

In terms of treatment, these findings suggest that therapies aimed at improving lung blood flow could be beneficial for children with long COVID. Potential approaches might include:
 
-Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Breathing exercises and physical therapy programs designed to enhance lung function and circulation.
 
-Anti-inflammatory Treatments: Medications targeting inflammation may help reduce lung tissue damage and improve overall blood flow.
 
-Blood Thinners or Vascular Therapies: If further research confirms the presence of microvascular obstructions, treatments aimed at dissolving small clots could be considered.
 
Long-Term Outlook and Future Research
Given the increasing number of children experiencing long COVID, further research is necessary to understand the long-term impact of these lung abnormalities. Future studies should explore:
 
-How lung perfusion changes over time in children with long COVID
 
-Whether certain treatments can improve lung blood flow and reduce symptoms
 
-The potential role of genetic or immune system factors in predisposing some children to these complications
 
By continuing to investigate these areas, researchers hope to develop more effective strategies for managing and treating long COVID in pediatric patients.
 
Conclusion
The discovery of reduced lung perfusion in children and adolescents with long COVID provides a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding this condition. It offers a potential explanation for the persistent fatigue that many affected children experience and highlights the need for more advanced diagnostic tools beyond standard lung function tests.
 
For parents and caregivers, these findings offer validation that their child's symptoms have a physiological basis, even if conventional tests fail to detect abnormalities. Moving forward, the medical community must prioritize research and treatment efforts to help these young patients regain their health and quality of life.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Radiology.
https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.241596
 
For the latest Long COVID News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/children-face-long-term-gastrointestinal-issues-after-covid-19-infection
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-surprisingly-finds-omicron-variant-causes-more-serious-issues-in-infants-children-and-teens-compared-to-delta
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/doctors-warn-that-covid-19-can-cause-severe-central-nervous-system-injury-in-children
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings