The child's experience of becoming ill with COVID-19.

The study used a convenience sample of 24 children in one Brazilian city, so it cannot show how all children experienced COVID-19. Children who had been hospitalized for COVID-19, or who had impaired communication or psychological or psychiatric changes that could affect understanding, were excluded. Only 50 of 373 eligible caregivers were contacted, and 24 children agreed, so the interviewed group may not represent the eligible population. Interviews occurred a median of 140.5 days after infection notification, so reports relied on memory and may not capture the acute illness period. Data collection stopped when the researchers judged the data sufficient and diverse, not after a fixed number. The analysis produced themes from children's accounts; it did not test whether any nursing or other care changed symptoms, routines or feelings. Children's accounts were influenced by their living conditions, such as housing with outdoor space, so experiences in more vulnerable contexts may differ.

Do not read these themes as proof that a nursing intervention improved children's outcomes. The study asked 24 children about their experience and did not test any treatment, and children who were hospitalized or had communication or psychological difficulties were excluded.