Long-Covid in children: New training project met with great demand!

Long-Covid in children: New training project met with great demand!

Hannover, Deutschland - long-covid, a topic of growing relevance, also affects children and young people in Germany. After the exact figures can only be estimated, a team from the Hannover Medical School (MHH) is involved in an innovative project. This multicenter training concept is intended to improve the care of affected families. The project is part of the nationwide Pednet-LC composite project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health at around 450,000 euros over a period of four years.

The symptoms of long-covid include pain, stomach and intestinal problems as well as heart problems, the most common form of chronic exhaustion, known as fatigue. According to MHH, around 50% of the affected children and adolescents diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In order to get a better overview of the topic, the training concept is designed to convey specialist knowledge and to promote the exchange between affected, relatives and experts.

training content and formats

The training is usually offered online and are aimed at different target groups. This includes group training for parents and children as well as individual courses for young people who cannot take part in group training. The topics include fundamental knowledge of long-covide, pacing, self-reflection and relaxation techniques. Furthermore, the training for parents contains social law issues, information on homeschooling and opportunities for emotional relief.

In order to further increase the quality of care, specialists from medicine, psychology, physiotherapy and social pedagogy are also trained. These receive valuable insights into diagnostics and therapy options. In addition, school staff are also school with regard to basic knowledge about long-covid and alternative forms of teaching. The project entitled “Together: A training for children and adolescents with post -viral diseases including ME/CFS and their parents” intends to actively promote the exchange between affected families.

The Pednet LC composite project

pednet-LC, which stands for the “pediatric network for the supply and research of post acuts consequences of COVID-19, similar post-acute infection and vaccination syndromes as well as ME/CFS in children and adolescents” is led by the clinic and polyclinic for child and adolescent medicine at the Technical University of Munich. A total of 38 healthcare facilities are involved in the Pednet LC network. The Munich clinic can fall back on a wide range of diagnostic options for comprehensive care for affected children. These expertise also extends to the differentiated examination of rare diseases, including genetic analyzes, to identify primary immune defects.

In the clinic in Schwabing, specialists specialize in the treatment of selected teething problems to diagnose and treat potential primary immunodefects. This is done according to scientifically secure concepts, with therapies such as antibody substitute therapies, granulocyta growth factor injections and even stem cell transplants.

Further information on the training courses offered and the background of the project are on the website of the Medical University Hannover href = "https://www.bundesgesundheitministerium.de/ Ministerium/Ressortforschung/handlungsfelder/forschungschwerpunkte/long-/post-covid/modul-1-kiju/pednet-lc.html"> Federal Ministry of Health available. In addition, the Munich Clinic Schwabing