Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and long COVID-19 in children in Duhok province and Zakho city in the Kurdistan region. Methodology: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study and included children ag...

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Main Authors: Nawfal R Hussein, Rojeen C Khalid, Tamara B Jamal, Sara A Mahdi, Abdullah S Mustafa, Bashar I Mohammed, Mateen A Shukri, Ibrahim A Naqid, Rashid M Ameen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19299
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author Nawfal R Hussein
Rojeen C Khalid
Tamara B Jamal
Sara A Mahdi
Abdullah S Mustafa
Bashar I Mohammed
Mateen A Shukri
Ibrahim A Naqid
Rashid M Ameen
author_facet Nawfal R Hussein
Rojeen C Khalid
Tamara B Jamal
Sara A Mahdi
Abdullah S Mustafa
Bashar I Mohammed
Mateen A Shukri
Ibrahim A Naqid
Rashid M Ameen
author_sort Nawfal R Hussein
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and long COVID-19 in children in Duhok province and Zakho city in the Kurdistan region. Methodology: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study and included children aged 5–12 years in Duhok and Zakho, two major neighboring cities in the Bahdenan region of northern Iraq. A total of 330 participants were included and the study was conducted between October 2022 and April 2023. The children were tested for the presence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and personal data, and symptoms of each participant to determine the prevalence of long COVID-19. Results: Out of 330 participants, 302 (91.5%) were positive for IgG, and 156 (51.7%) of them were male. Only 4 participants (1.3%) had pneumonia, and 282 (93.4%) were asymptomatic. Fourteen out of 302 (4.6%) participants had long COVID-19. There were significant associations between long COVID-19 and history of previous COVID-19 episodes (p = 0.001), presence of pneumonia (p = 0.001), and family history of COVID-19 (p = 0.005). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of COVID-19 among children in Duhok province and Zakho city, and 4.6% of them experienced long COVID-19. Factors such as prior COVID-19, pneumonia, and family history of COVID-19 were associated with long COVID-19. Continued monitoring, education, vaccination, preventive measures, and supportive care are recommended to effectively address the impact of COVID-19 on the pediatric population.
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spelling doaj-art-ac03f61b819748fd8ef71d28433a79c72025-08-20T02:57:03ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802025-03-01190310.3855/jidc.19299Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age groupNawfal R Hussein0Rojeen C Khalid1Tamara B Jamal2Sara A Mahdi3Abdullah S Mustafa4Bashar I Mohammed5Mateen A Shukri6Ibrahim A Naqid7Rashid M Ameen8Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of IraqDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health and Medical Technology Shekhan, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and long COVID-19 in children in Duhok province and Zakho city in the Kurdistan region. Methodology: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study and included children aged 5–12 years in Duhok and Zakho, two major neighboring cities in the Bahdenan region of northern Iraq. A total of 330 participants were included and the study was conducted between October 2022 and April 2023. The children were tested for the presence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and personal data, and symptoms of each participant to determine the prevalence of long COVID-19. Results: Out of 330 participants, 302 (91.5%) were positive for IgG, and 156 (51.7%) of them were male. Only 4 participants (1.3%) had pneumonia, and 282 (93.4%) were asymptomatic. Fourteen out of 302 (4.6%) participants had long COVID-19. There were significant associations between long COVID-19 and history of previous COVID-19 episodes (p = 0.001), presence of pneumonia (p = 0.001), and family history of COVID-19 (p = 0.005). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of COVID-19 among children in Duhok province and Zakho city, and 4.6% of them experienced long COVID-19. Factors such as prior COVID-19, pneumonia, and family history of COVID-19 were associated with long COVID-19. Continued monitoring, education, vaccination, preventive measures, and supportive care are recommended to effectively address the impact of COVID-19 on the pediatric population. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19299SARS-CoV-2IgG positivitylong COVID-19childrenpediatrics
spellingShingle Nawfal R Hussein
Rojeen C Khalid
Tamara B Jamal
Sara A Mahdi
Abdullah S Mustafa
Bashar I Mohammed
Mateen A Shukri
Ibrahim A Naqid
Rashid M Ameen
Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
SARS-CoV-2
IgG positivity
long COVID-19
children
pediatrics
title Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
title_full Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
title_fullStr Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
title_short Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group
title_sort prevalence of anti sars cov 2 igg positivity and long covid 19 in pediatric age group
topic SARS-CoV-2
IgG positivity
long COVID-19
children
pediatrics
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19299
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