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

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

doi:10.3855/jidc.19299

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

Authors

Nawfal R Hussein Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7813-9198
Rojeen C Khalid Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Tamara B Jamal Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Sara A Mahdi Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Abdullah S Mustafa Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Bashar I Mohammed Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1276-510X
Mateen A Shukri Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Ibrahim A Naqid Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7223-2690
Rashid M Ameen Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health and Medical Technology Shekhan, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.19299

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, IgG positivity, long COVID-19, children, pediatrics

Abstract

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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Published

2025-03-31

How to Cite

Hussein NR, Khalid RC, Jamal TB, Mahdi SA, Mustafa AS, Mohammed BI, Shukri MA, Naqid IA, Ameen RM (2025) Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity and long COVID-19 in pediatric age group. J Infect Dev Ctries 19:335–341. doi: 10.3855/jidc.19299

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 03: March 2025

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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