Mountain. 13-year-old boy suffers from symptoms of COVID-19, including heart problems, for months

MISSOULA, Mont. (KECI) – Months after contracting COVID-19, a 13-year-old boy from Montana is considered a ‘long haul’ as he continues to show symptoms of the disease, including heart problems, muscle weakness and breathing difficulties.

It’s been months of agony for 13-year-old Hudson Beard, who contracted COVID-19 in November. He has not been to school since and continues to show symptoms, often severe, of the illness.

“It’s tough,” Hudson said. “It’s really hard when the doctors don’t have an answer, and they’re like, ‘Well, over time, let’s see what happens, and you might be better. We do not know. “

In December, doctors diagnosed Hudson with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a disorder that causes his heart rate to jump when he stands. He feels dizzy every time he gets up or does basic tasks like reading or watching TV.

Since then his symptoms have only worsened, sending him to a Colorado hospital with new problems discovered in his heart.

“My coronary arteries are dilated, both,” Hudson said.

“Her heart, we didn’t understand that for two months,” said Lisa Beard, Hudson’s mother. “So, now we are dealing with a coronary artery problem that we don’t know if it will solve.”

Hudson also has new breathing issues, ongoing migraines, gastrointestinal issues, and issues with the left side of his body, as if he had suffered a stroke.

“He’s got a lot of muscle weakness and there’s been a lot of atrophy all over his left side,” Beard said. “So the rehab is the same as if he had had a stroke.”

Hudson now has a dedicated team of doctors and specialists who support him and his family throughout their journey, but they are still in desperate need of answers and a healing.

“I was wondering why I have all these symptoms and a new one comes up every two weeks and why no doctor can explain it,” Hudson said.

Hudson has a new pet turtle who helps him pass the time during the days, while listening to audiobooks. Until more answers come, his days will continue to include doctors’ appointments and tests while his parents do whatever they can to put him on the path to recovery.

“A lot of people really don’t understand how dramatic the effects of COVID are on children,” Beard said. “A lot of times we want to protect the most vulnerable, the little ones under a year old and the elderly, but Hudson was a thriving and very active 13-year-old and the rest of my family have recovered, and he didn’t. did not.

Doctors say there is a lot more heart involvement in people who have had COVID-19 than they originally thought. One study used cardiac MRI scans on 100 patients recovering from the virus, showing cardiac involvement in 78 of the patients and inflammation of the myocardium in 60.

If you’ve had COVID-19 and are experiencing chest pain or palpitations, it’s a good idea to call your doctor.

For children who have had COVID-19, even without major symptoms, doctors recommend screening before resuming exercise or sport.

Copyright 2021 KECI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.