A perfect storm: the immunological and pathophysiological landscape of pediatric post-COVID-19 condition
Lap, Coen R van Houten, Marlies Bogaert, Debby Biesbroek, Giske
Lap, Coen R
van Houten, Marlies
Bogaert, Debby
Biesbroek, Giske
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Journal Article
Review
Article
Review
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2026-04-10
Year of publication
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
A perfect storm: the immunological and pathophysiological landscape of pediatric post-COVID-19 condition
Translated Title
Published in
Front Immunol 2026; 17:1794596
Abstract
Pediatric Post-COVID Condition (PPCC) represents a significant and complex long-term sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection, affecting a subset of children and adolescents even after mild acute disease. While acute COVID-19 is generally milder in children due to a more robust innate immune response, the mechanisms driving the persistence of symptoms in PPCC remain incompletely understood and likely multifactorial. This narrative review synthesizes current epidemiological data and explores the "perfect storm" of immunological and pathophysiological alterations underpinning the condition. We examine critical hypotheses including a dysregulated immune response characterized by altered T-cell subsets, monocyte activation, and autoantibody production. We discuss the potential role of persistent SARS-CoV-2 viral reservoirs in "sanctuary sites" like the gastrointestinal tract and the reactivation of latent viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Furthermore, the review details downstream pathogenic pathways, including vascular endothelial inflammation (thrombo-inflammation), neuroinflammation, and metabolic dysfunctions affecting the mitochondria and tryptophan-kynurenine pathway. Finally, we address the role of microbiome dysbiosis in perpetuating systemic inflammation and the gut-lung axis dysfunction. Given the heterogeneity of clinical presentations, we conclude that PPCC is likely a syndrome of overlapping biological phenotypes. Future research must prioritize identifying these specific biological endotypes to develop targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the pediatric population.