Clinical management
Long COVID in children and young people
A recent study has been investigating symptom patterns and life with Long COVID in children and young people.
The research team found people often lacked knowledge about the effects of Long COVID in children and young people.
Over 70 children and young people with and without Long COVID worked with the research team to inform development of information materials, including short videos and an illustrated leaflet.
See resources here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/ourresearch/medicine/primarycareresearchthemes/ppie/splattoon/
WiseGP Actions
Could you add a link to the above patient resources from your practice website or share them on social media?
To raise awareness, could one of your team share a case of Long COVID in a child/ young person they have managed during a practice educational session? How was the diagnosis reached and what advice did they offer? This NHS website offers further advice on general measures to support recovery from Long COVID in children and young people- https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/children-and-young-people-with-covid/
Prognostic factors for persistent fatigue after COVID-19
A prospective cohort study investigated prognostic factors for persistent fatigue after mild COVID-19 infection during the first wave of the pandemic.
Low educational level, absence of a partner, high neuroticism, low resilience, high frequency of GP contact and threatening experiences in the past were prognostic factors for persistent fatigue.
When a patient presents with fatigue after COVID-19 infection and meets some of the prognostic criteria, GPs should be aware of the increased risk of fatigue becoming persistent and consider this when advising on management.
WiseGP Actions:
Do you have support available for patients experiencing persistent fatigue? Is this something that your PCN occupational therapy team could help with? Have a look at our Wise General Practice Story, OTs and Chronic Pain Support for inspiration (https://www.wisegp.co.uk/chronic-pain-support)!
Read more about the research informing this GEM here: https://bjgp.org/content/73/730/e340
Antivirals in high-risk patients with COVID-19
A trial aimed to establish the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of molnupirvair, an oral antiviral, for SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated patients in the community at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.
Molnupiravir did not reduce the frequency of COVID-19-associated hospitalisations or death among high-risk vaccinated adults in the community.
WiseGP Actions
Being a research active practice open to participating in similar trials could help improve the evidence base to combat future public health emergencies.
o What research is your practice involved in, across your PCN, regionally or nationally? If you’re not research-active, is this something you could consider?
o Could a discussion of research within general practice form a useful foundation for a GP tutorial discussion?
Read more here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02597-1/fulltext
