Medical professionals say that youth sports physicals should include evaluation of the heart for children and teens who have had and cleared cases of COVID-19.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society for Sports Medicine issued similar guidelines for physicians who do sports physicals, saying there is a chance that kids who had COVID-19 may have suffered unsuspected damage to their heart, putting them at risk during the added exertion of sports training and play.
On their website, The American Academy of Pediatrics, in their COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports, says “Youth who have recovered from COVID-19 should be cleared for a return to sports by their physician and undergo evaluation for cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations or syncope. A positive cardiac screen or other concerning findings should prompt an electrocardiogram (EKG) and potential referral to a pediatric cardiologist.”
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