Help us to better understand the long-term effects of COVID. 

 Participate in a nationwide study on the effects of long-term COVID  

More children are becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and some are experiencing symptoms lasting from one to several months. This condition is referred to by various names including long COVID, chronic COVID or scientifically, as post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 or PASC.  

A team of experts at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health is taking part in a national study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young adults. The goal of the study is to determine the most effective ways to treat this condition. 

Who is eligible to participate in the study? 

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health is one of several pediatric hospitals aiming to enroll 20,000 children and young adults under the age of 25, including: 

·         People with long-term effects of COVID 

·         People who completely recovered from COVID (and have no long-term effects) 

·         People who never had COVID 

·         Parents or caregivers of study participants 

What are the symptoms of long-term COVID? 

Long-term symptoms may be experienced even by people who had a mild case or even been asymptomatic (had no symptoms) from COVID-19. These include: 

·         Headache 

·         Fatigue (tiredness) 

·         Difficulty concentrating 

·         Shortness of breath 

·         Heart palpitations or changes in heart rate 

·         Sleep disorders 

What if I don’t know if I (or my child) have long COVID? 

Because the symptoms of long COVID are similar to those of other conditions, it can go undiagnosed. Parents may conclude that their child is lethargic or finding it difficult to focus because of the time spent away from school and friends during the shutdown.  

If your child or a child you know is experiencing symptoms that interfere with daily life, talk to your pediatrician or doctor about being evaluated for long-term COVID effects and consider participating in this study. 

Find out more 

If you would like to learn more about this study, please email the study team at RECOVEROKPeds@ouhsc.edu.         

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the RECOVER Initiative to learn about the long-term effects of COVID.