Characterizing acute and persistent symptoms of Covid-19 among adults and children in rural Zambia, 2020–2022

Bibliographic Data

ID19593124
AuthorsCatherine G Sutcliffe (0000-0001-8512-8326, Johns Hopkins University, corresponding author), Pamela Sinywimaanzi (Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust), Mutinta Hamahuwa (0009-0006-6301-5148, Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust), Juliet A Morales (0000-0001-7231-0188, Johns Hopkins University), Juliet Morales (Johns Hopkins University), Adriana van de Guchte (New York Genome Center), Morris Sianyanda (Johns Hopkins University), Zain Khalil (New York Genome Center), Passwell Munachoonga (Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust), Ana Silvia Gonzalez-Reiche (New York Genome Center), Mathias Muleka (Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust), Katherine Z J Fenstermacher (Johns Hopkins University), Mwaka Monze (0000-0001-9178-0409, University Teaching Hospital), Harm van Bakel (New York Genome Center), Richard E Rothman (0000-0002-1017-9505, Johns Hopkins University), Andrew Pekosz (0000-0003-3248-1761, Johns Hopkins University), Edgar Simulundu (0000-0001-9423-0816, Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust)
EditorsXiao Li (0000-0002-6762-2475), Xiao Wu Li (0000-0001-9702-4153)
Year2026
Volume6
Issue5
Pagese0006463
Publication date2026-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0006463
PMID42207814
OpenAlexW7162627526
LanguageEN
References cited29

Since emerging in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has led to significant morbidity and mortality globally. While much is known about SARS-CoV-2 infection and sequelae, fewer studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to characterize acute and persistent symptoms of COVID-19 among adults and children in rural Zambia. From December 2020 to March 2022, individuals of all ages with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 132) were recruited into a cohort study. For comparison, individuals with acute influenza infection (n = 56) were also recruited. Participants were followed at 30, 90, 180, and 365 days. Most adult COVID-19 participants (median age: 36 years; 54% male; 11% had received the COVID-19 vaccine) were symptomatic at enrollment (92%), but few were hospitalized (9%). The most common symptoms were cough, headache, fever, and body aches. Most symptoms resolved by 30 days; the proportion reporting symptoms at follow-up visits ranged from 11% to 19%. Common symptoms at follow-up visits included cough, runny nose, headache, body aches, and fatigue. Similarly, most child COVID-19 participants (86%) were symptomatic at enrollment (median age: 13 years; 57% male; none had received the COVID-19 vaccine) and none were hospitalized. The most common symptoms were cough, fever, headache, and runny nose with most symptoms resolving by 30 days. The proportion reporting symptoms at follow-up visits ranged from 13% to 20%. Common symptoms included cough, fever, headache and runny nose. For comparison, adult and child participants with influenza virus infection were evaluated. The proportion reporting symptoms at follow-up visits ranged from 16% to 32%. This study adds to the literature on the clinical characteristics of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistent symptoms in the first two years of the pandemic in an underrepresented region

Cohort · Cohort study · Common cold · Incidence (geometry) · Nasal congestion · Nose · Sore throat · Young adult · COVID-19 and Mental Health · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · Epidemiology · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19