The Covid-19 Inquiry revealed that during the pandemic, medical professionals were advised not to label children with Long Covid due to concerns about potential psychological harm. As a result, many children suffering from post-viral symptoms were never formally diagnosed. Families affected by the condition told the inquiry their children have been left disabled, often bedbound, and largely ignored by the NHS, schools, and social services.
The charity Long Covid Kids supports 7,000 families facing similar challenges. Its founder, Sammie McFarland, stated that public health messaging minimized children’s symptoms, which often became severe and long-lasting. Parents described being “gas lit” by healthcare professionals who dismissed their children’s physical symptoms as mental health issues. Many said there is no clear NHS diagnostic pathway for children and that Long Covid clinics are closing.
Among those affected are Harbinder Dhaliwal’s three children, aged 12 and 15, who have been unable to attend school for three years. Jana Touati’s 15-year-old son, Samir, developed Long Covid after catching the virus when schools reopened without sufficient safety measures. He now uses a wheelchair and suffers from cognitive and muscular issues. Both mothers attended the Covid Inquiry, saying that affected children have become “invisible.”
Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that one in 165 children and young people—about 72,000 individuals—reported Long Covid symptoms after a second infection, though no data exist on how many remain disabled. Research from Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London involving 12,600 children found that 70% recovered within two years, but teenage girls were twice as likely to remain affected.
An NHS spokesperson said over 100,000 people, including children, have received support through specialist clinics. The UK Government stated it is funding further research and remains committed to ensuring all children with Long Covid receive appropriate care and recognition.
