Experience of rehabilitation of children with lung damage associated with COVID-19 in the post-covid period

The variety of clinical symptoms in the post-COVID period and the long period of their persistence determine the relevance of timely and adequate rehabilitation of patients. Patients and methods. The observational study involved 40 children aged 7 to 18 years at the stage of rehabilitation after COVID-19 with lung damage. Two groups of patients were identified: the control group (n = 20) received standard therapy (inhaled glucocorticosteroids (IGCs), vitamins, anticoagulants); the study group (n = 20) received ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) in addition to standard therapy for 30 days. The groups underwent a physical examination, measurement of spirometry, scoring of general and respiratory symptoms and adverse events on days 1, 14, and 30 of therapy. Results. By day 30 of AG therapy, the frequency of cough decreased by 30% in the study group, and the symptom of weakness was eliminated in 50% of children; in the control group, cough persisted in all patients (p = 0.01), weakness was recorded in 90% of patients (p = 0.005). In the study group compared to the control, there was a significantly faster regression of symptom severity. By the 30th day of observation, VAS cough scores in the study group were 0.75 ± 0.4 points, which was 2.5 times lower than in the control group (1.85 ± 0.3 points, p = 0.002); weakness scores in patients in the study group were 2.8 times lower than in the control (0.45 ± 0.4 and 1.25 ± 0.3 points, respectively, p = 0.005). In all patients in the study group, the normalization of spirometry was recorded by day 30, while the majority of control group patients had no such positive dynamics. Conclusion. The inclusion of AG in a course of 30 days in the complex rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 with lung damage provides a rapid regression of the severity of respiratory and general symptoms of the post-COVID period, which can significantly improve the quality of life of patients and the prognosis of the disease. Key words: coronavirus infection, COVID-19, post-COVID syndrome, children, rehabilitation, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, glycyrrhizic acid