Five Years of Long Covid: Symptoms Worsen for 18-Year-Old Molly Foden

Molly Foden, now 18, first contracted Covid in September 2021. Since then, she has been living with Long Covid, a condition where symptoms of Covid-19 persist for longer than 12 weeks. Foden describes her symptoms as including dizziness, fatigue, and body pain.

The charity Long Covid Kids estimates that thousands of children are affected by the condition and has supported 11,000 families over the past six years. Molly Foden says her condition has worsened over the past year, leading to stomach trouble, sickness, and pain that required a two-month hospital stay.

According to the NHS, common symptoms of Long Covid include fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, aching muscles, and problems with memory and concentration, or brain fog. However, patient experiences vary widely, with many reporting a range of debilitating symptoms.

Foden has been unable to attend school regularly and has been unable to participate in sports, which were previously central to her life. She has developed persistent fatigue, recurring fevers, pain, and complex conditions including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). She has often had to rely on a wheelchair due to her fatigue.

Foden was previously cared for by a dedicated paediatric Long Covid clinic in Dorset, but that service closed for children in November 2023. She has since struggled to access NHS care, being turned down by services that deemed her condition too complex. She has had to seek private care in Liverpool.

Foden's mother, Laura, says it is frustrating trying to find help for her daughter, describing the health system as working in silos with poor communication. Parents of children with Long Covid are calling on the government to fund more research into treatment and a consistent approach by the NHS to provide equal support across the country.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson says it recognises the impact of Long Covid and is funding research, including the £1.9 million CLoCk study. The spokesperson adds that Long Covid services are commissioned by local NHS organisations and that people with symptoms should visit their GP for referrals to alternative services if local services are not available.