COVID-19 and Sports
1.21.2021
Although generally infection with COVID-19 in the pediatric age group has been associated with a less severe range of illness when compared to adults, the full range of complications and long term outcomes are not yet known. There is growing concern that a small subset of children (and adults) may have heart related complications as a result of infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. This is true even in previoulsy healthy children. The specific condition is called myocarditis, inflammation of the heart.
Medical experts have developed guidelines for those children who have recovered from COVID-19 and are planning to return to sports and Physical Education (PE) classes. In summary, all children who have recovered from COVID-19 will need to be cleared before they re-engage in any sport or PE class, regardless of the degree of illness. To complete the clearance this will include an in-office visit, a complete medical history, physical exam and vital signs. This visit will be expected to be 2-3 weeks after the start of the infection. Before a child returns to a sport or PE class, medical expert opinion is that all children with COVID-19 will need a minimum of a 10 day rest period after they are fully asymptomatic. Based on the degree of illness the current guidelines recommend that children with moderate to severe illnesses be further screened by a pediatric cardiologist.
The links below will provide additional information for our patients and families. This will include the current Yale New Haven Children's Hospital guideline which has provided the most comphrensive and rigorous guidance for those who have recovered from COVID-19, and which is being followed.
Yale: Return to Play
Amercian Academy of Pediatrics: Return to Sports
HealthyChildren.org: COVID-19: A Safety Checklist
HealthyChildren.org: COVID-19 and Sports - a general news article
