For parents who are sick and tired of hearing about COVID-19, learning about a link between repeated infections and long-term symptoms might be frustrating. But there are things everyone can do to reduce the risk of reinfection.

Nearly everyone has heard the term ‘Long COVID’, the name given to the condition which is characterised by the lingering symptoms people can experience following acute COVID-19 infection1. Almost every part of our body is vulnerable to COVID-19 because the SARS-COV-2 virus uses a receptor that is abundant throughout the human body to infect us2, and, as a result, it is unsurprising that Long COVID encompasses constellations of more than 200 symptoms3,4.

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or someone who cares for children, you might have wondered about the impact on youngsters of getting COVID-19 more than once. A new study from a large American national research project called RECOVER suggests that children and adolescents who were reinfected with the virus during the Omicron era faced a higher risk of developing Long COVID5.

In general, children are less likely than adults to experience serious complications from COVID-19 infections. But this research is a reminder that the virus can be extremely unpredictable and have long-term impacts, even after we think we’re in the clear.

Researchers teamed up with 40 children’s hospitals and health institutions across the United States. They analysed health records of nearly half a million children and teens under 21 who had tested positive for COVID-19 at least once. What made this study special is that it compared children who had COVID-19 only once to those who were infected two (or more) times during the Omicron period, starting in early 2022.

Why focus on the Omicron variant? Because Omicron and its “family” of variants have been dominant for a while, and during this time, reinfections have become more common. The research team wanted to see if children with multiple Omicron-era infections had a higher chance of developing specific health problems in the weeks and months following their illness. In other words, did repeated infections stack the odds against them when it comes to long-term symptoms?

The short answer is yes—children who got COVID-19 again were more likely to experience long-term issues. Long COVID can include a variety of symptoms that linger or appear after the initial illness, often affecting several body systems. In children, these might commonly include:

  1. Fatigue and malaise: A “wiped out” feeling that doesn’t seem to go away.
  2. Ongoing respiratory issues: Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness well after the infection is supposed to be over.
  3. Gastrointestinal issues: Stomach pain or trouble digesting certain foods.
  4. Neurological changes: Brain fog or trouble concentrating.
  5. Cardiovascular issues: Heart palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms, or even more serious heart inflammation (myocarditis).

The study found that a second infection appeared to double the risk of being diagnosed with an overall post-COVID condition and was linked to higher risks of heart-related problems, kidney issues, and fatigue, among other conditions. It wasn’t just one symptom driving the concern; it was several kinds of symptoms spread across multiple organ systems. This study provides strong evidence that reinfections can increase the risk of Long COVID in children.

Here’s what you can do reduce the risk of reinfection:

  1. Stay up to date on vaccines
    • This study adds weight to the growing body of evidence that keeping up with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters can help6. Even if a breakthrough infection happens, being vaccinated often results in milder acute illness—and a lower risk of complications later. If you live in a part of the world that no longer makes vaccines available to children, you can use these other measures to reduce the risk of infection:
  2. Use masks in high-risk situations
    • Mask mandates have ended, but individuals still have choice over their personal precautions and are free to wear  high-quality respirator masks (N95, FFP2 or better) in indoor areas. Many families who use masks as part of normal life find they prevent sniffles, sore throats, flu and COVID-19, and studies show that when they are used in hospital settings they can eliminate infections entirely7-9.
  3. Avoid unnecessary exposure
    • Some families have learned to make small, simple adjustments, like opting for outdoor playdates, or eating outdoors when case counts are high in the community.
  4. Take cold-like symptoms seriously
    • If your child comes down with “just a cold,” keep in mind it could be COVID-19, even if their symptoms are mild. Testing and staying home while contagious helps protect classmates, friends, and siblings from repeated infections. While your child might recover without ongoing complications, other children might experience long-term consequences, so doing your bit to minimise transmission is part of being a good citizen. Resting during and after infection is important to reduce the risk of Long COVID.
  5. Educate your community on the value of clean air
    • Multiple studies demonstrate how transmission of all respiratory viruses can be reduced with proper air ventilation10 and filtration11,12. Learn about the simple things you can do, from opening windows to opting for outdoor activities13, and the investments you and your community can make in air filtration to make your indoor spaces safer.

This study adds to the overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 isn’t just a once and done experience. Reinfection can dial up the risk of persistent symptoms—even though kids, by and large, do better with COVID-19 than older adults. If your child has already been unlucky enough to catch COVID-19 two or three times, this study’s findings aren’t cause for panic. Instead, they’re a nudge to take whatever steps you can to reduce the risk of reinfection, minimise the impact of infection through vaccination, and pay extra attention to your child’s health in the weeks and months following each new infection and to understand that if they seem lacklustre or are complaining about niggling health issues, it might not be ‘malingering’ and there might be an ongoing issue that is worth a medical check-up.

For most people, COVID-19 isn’t even an afterthought as they go about daily life, but this study highlights why it’s still worth paying attention to the virus. Prevention really is better than having to deal with possible long-term complications. By taking small, but proactive steps to minimise reinfections, families can give their kids the best chance to stay healthy and active, both now and in the future.