JAMA – Question Is SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity associated with symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in children and adolescents?
Findings This cross-sectional study of hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence surveys in Germany compared seropositive and seronegative children and adolescents and identified an excess of possible ME/CFS symptoms with serological evidence of preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection. This association almost disappeared with adjustment for confounders and restriction to children and adolescents unaware of preceding infection.
Meaning These findings suggest that the risk of ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents may be small and that recall bias may contribute to risk estimates.