Painful leg inflammation can be long-COVID side effect, doctor says

Doctors in the Oklahoma City area are keeping an eye on a concerning symptom related to COVID-19. Painful leg inflammation is being seen more often in children. Joseph Sassine, a doctor University of Oklahoma Health, has been looking into long-COVID symptoms and ways to prevent them, sister station KOCO reports. "It seems to be a phenomenon that has really been described with COVID," Sassine said. The painful leg inflammation has impacted some patients' ability to walk. "We know that COVID in these cases can cause muscle inflammation. You can see how this can impair someone's ability to walk," Sassine said. This has been seen in both adults and children, but there has been more research and data on the effects in kids. "It can happen really at any point in time after the COVID infection. Usually, it is up to 60 days. But there is no real-time period within that interval," Sassine said. While there are no symptoms that could indicate if this will happen to a certain individual, Sassine said parents should be on the lookout for rash, stomach pain, diarrhea and muscle aches for up to two months after a COVID-19 infection. "For the more severe cases, they need to come to the hospital," Sassine said. "Reach out to your pediatrician, and they will know how to direct you."The good news is this side effect is pretty rare, according to Sassine. But if it does happen, it can be a long road to recovery.