Wyller has received funds to study long term effects after corona infection in adolescents.
The money comes from a foundation called Dam which allows researchers to apply for funding through user/patient organisations. The user organisation for this project is Recovery Norge.
This is the presentation of the project (google translated):
COVID-19 can cause persistent physical ailments long after the acute infection. This can be due to organ damage (eg damage to the lungs), but in most cases it is a matter of chronic symptoms (fatigue, pain, "brain fog", etc.) without finding any clear discrepancies in a regular medical examination.
This condition, which in English is often referred to as "Long COVID", can be disabling. Similar conditions can occur after certain other infections, such as acute Epstein Barr virus infection (‘kissing disease’), and there are also many similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS / ME).
Long COVID can affect as many as 5-10% of all people with acute COVID-19, and can thus be considered a pandemic in itself. The underlying causes are unclear, but research on related conditions suggests a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, adverse life events, immunological changes, and neuropsychological mechanisms.
This project is a prospective cohort study where the goals are: a) To determine the prevalence (prevalence) of Long COVID in adolescents and young adults (12-25 years) who have not been hospitalized; b) To determine risk factors for the development of Long COVID.
We have already included 410 people with acute COVID-19 and 116 people with symptoms of acute COVID-19, but negative corona test: Both of these groups will be followed up after 6 and 12 months.
At all examination times, we perform analyzes of genetic and immunological markers in blood, neuropsychological tests, as well as heart and lung examinations; in addition, participants answer a comprehensive questionnaire.
The project focuses on a "new" state where the knowledge base is very thin. This applies in particular to non-hospitalized adolescents and young adults: there are very few studies of this population segment, despite the fact that infection rates have been high. T
he project will have a direct impact on the establishment of a health service offer for people with Long COVID in the primary health service, and will also provide key premises for preventive measures, including vaccine strategy: If the prevalence of Long COVID proves to be high, this is a strong argument that adolescents should be vaccinated.
The project results also form a basis for further scientific studies of underlying disease mechanisms and treatment. The first publication from the project can be expected towards the end of 2022.
Source:
https://dam.no/prosjekter/langtidseffekter-etter-koronavirusinfeksjon-hos-ungdom/