Objective Symptoms due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may persist or new symptoms may appear later. It was aimed to investigate the relationships between late respiratory system findings, allergen sensitivity, and laboratory findings in children with asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19 history.

Methods The study was conducted in tertiary hospital prospectively between April and July 2021. Children with respiratory system symptoms lasting longer than 1 month, with a history of asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19 infection and those who were anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)- antibody-positive were included. Late respiratory system findings, allergen sensitivity, and immunological and hematological findings were evaluated. Children with chronic diseases and those who were anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody-negative were excluded.

Results Of 105 patients, 44.8% were female with a mean age of 10.7 (1–17) years. Median time from history or exposure to COVID-19 was 5 months in all patients. Post-COVID-19 respiratory symptoms were cough (61%), followed by shortness of breath (46.7%), and chest pain (21%), which were similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (p > 0.05). Of the laboratory findings, only the hemoglobin value was significantly higher in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.03), and there was no difference between them in terms of other parameters.

Conclusion It was shown that respiratory system symptoms may occur in the late period after COVID-19. The atopic status and laboratory findings of the patients did not affect this result.

F.D. and A.G.Y. conceived and designed the evaluation and drafted the manuscript. U.C.M participated in designing, evaluation, performed parts of the statistical analysis and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors collected the clinical data, interpreted them and revised. read and approved the final manuscript.

The work was carried out at Konya City Hospital, Konya, Turkey.

Received: 04 October 2023

Accepted: 20 December 2023

Article published online:
04 March 2024

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