Based on what we know about how COVID-19 affects children, we often think of the virus as a relatively mild, short-lasting illness for that age group. But for an untold number the lingering illness known as Long COVID has caused ongoing suffering. As my colleague Jamie Ducharme reports, estimates vary, but some research has shown that about a quarter of children have symptoms for at least four weeks—longer than one might imagine for a ‘mild’ illness, Jamie notes. Among kids who were hospitalized, about a quarter had symptoms up to four months later, according to another study.
Such children experience a wide range of lasting issues, including fatigue, chronic pain, and brain fog, which can dramatically affect their lives. Take, for instance, Ayden Varno, a 13-year-old Ohio boy who suffers from non-epileptic seizures and pain so severe it affects his ability to walk. He told Jamie that the pain felt as if “a hot knife was being stabbed into my back multiple times.”
While many children with Long COVID do gradually recover even without treatment, for others, medical professionals’ lack of knowledge about the condition has made dealing with it difficult. Ayden, for instance, spent months visiting various doctors seeking clarity. Most had no idea what was wrong with him, with some suggesting that he was suffering a psychotic episode, or facing abuse at home (neither of which were accurate). As Jamie writes:
The family’s first lead came in July 2021, after they drove 14 hours to a pediatric hospital in Philadelphia. A doctor there mentioned that the pandemic seemed to be driving an increase in pain disorders, giving the Varnos a clue that COVID-19 might be to blame for Ayden’s pain. When, in December 2021, a clinician at Cleveland’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital finally diagnosed Ayden with Long COVID, both he and his mother broke down crying with relief.
“We finally had a physician who believed us, who supported us, who didn’t think that my husband and I did something terrible to our child,” Ayden's mother told Jamie.
After receiving a battery of treatments, including physical therapy, sleep and pain medication, and acupuncture, Ayden is improving. He still has seizures, limited mobility, and fatigue, but he’s back at school, and is able to spend time with his friends. “Just keep pushing, and look on the bright side,” Ayden says. “Don’t look at the negative side. There’s always hope.”
Nearly 628 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 1:30 am. E.T. today, and nearly 6.58 million people have died. On Oct. 23, there were 159,951 new cases and 482 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending, in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 10 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 97 million coronavirus cases as of 1:30 am. E.T. today. Nearly 1.07 million people have died. On Oct. 23, there were 8,100 new cases reported in the U.S., and 1 death was confirmed.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Oct. 24 To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
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WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
The National Assessment of Educational Progress—often referred to as the U.S.’ ‘report card’— showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dire impact on American schoolchildren, in scores released today. No state had improvements in math or reading scores between 2019 and 2012, and most states saw declines.
Pfizer will increase the cost of its COVID-19 vaccine to $110-$130 after the U.S. government stops buying the shots, up from the $19.50-$30 it had been charging the government per shot, the AP reported Oct. 21. Angela Lukin, an executive for the company, said Thursday the cost reflects the price of changing to single-dose vials and commercial distribution. The new price will dramatically increase the cost of vaccination for uninsured patients, but the company said that it expects people with insurance to continue receiving the shot for free.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday evening, the agency said in a statement on Monday. Walensky is “up to date” on her vaccine and is experiencing mild symptoms.
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Today's newsletter was written by Tara Law and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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