Role of Lung Ultrasound in the Follow-Up of Children with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case-Control Assessment of Children with Long COVID or Fully Recovered

Abstract

Lung ultrasound (LUS) can detect lower respiratory tract involvement in children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, its role in follow-up assessments is still unclear. To describe LUS findings in children after SARS-CoV-2 infection, we conducted a prospective study in a population of pediatric patients referred to the post-COVID unit in a tertiary center during the study period from February 2021 to May 2022. Children were classified as recovered from acute infection or with persisting symptoms. LUS was performed in all children and a LUS score (ranging from 0 to 36 points) was calculated according to the Italian Academy of Thoracic Ultrasound. Six hundred forty-seven children (304 females, 47%) were enrolled. The median follow-up evaluation was two months. The median age was 7.9 (IQR: 6) years. At the follow-up evaluation, 251 patients (38.8%) had persistent symptoms, of whom 104 (16.1%) had at least one respiratory symptom. The median LUS level was 2 (IQR: 4). LUS findings and LUS scores did not differ in children with Long COVID compared to the group of children fully recovered from the initial infection. In conclusion, after SARS-CoV-2 infection, LUS was mostly normal or showed minimal artifacts in all groups of children.