Abstract :
[en] Background : Pediatric Long COVID is an emerging but still under-recognized
condition in general practice. Children affected by post-COVID symptoms often
present with fatigue, cognitive disturbances, post-exertional intolerance, and signi-
ficant functional decline, yet remain clinically invisible.
Objective : This study aims to characterize pediatric Long COVID through
a case-based approach, using semantic standardization via the Human Phenotype
Ontology (HPO).
Methods : Out of a cohort of 307 patients followed in general practice for Long
COVID between 2021 and 2025, ten children aged 6 to 15 were selected as the
youngest subgroup. Each case was assessed using a multimodal protocol combining
standardized questionnaires (ComPaRe and COOP/WONCA), recorded clinical in-
terviews, and HPO-based semantic symptom extraction. The approach emphasized
lived experience, narrative analysis, and functional assessment.
Results : All ten children displayed a complex, multisystem symptomatology—most
commonly fatigue and post-exertional intolerance (10/10), cognitive complaints (8/10),
sleep disturbances, various types of pain, and signs of dysautonomia. Functional im-
pairment was marked, with significant limitations across physical, cognitive, and
social domains. HPO indexing enabled the transformation of narrative symptoms
into reproducible phenotypic profiles, supporting both clinical decision-making and
patient-family communication.
Conclusion : This study highlights the potential of general practice to detect
and document pediatric Long COVID using a narrative and phenotypic approach.
By integrating patient stories with digital semantic tools like HPO, clinicians can
give structure and legitimacy to subjective complaints, facilitating earlier recognition
and better care for affected children.
