What happens to children after a long ICU stay? Comprehensive support is often missing, say experts

Suchitra Ranjit, head, paediatric ICU, Apollo Children’s Hospitals, Chennai, recalls a young patient who survived a severe episode of dengue complicated by multi-organ failure and a brain haemorrhage. A year after discharge, while the child had regained their physical strength, they continued to experience separation anxiety and struggled to reintegrate into the school routine. “Among ICU survivors, 10–20 % exhibit features of post-intensive-care syndrome (PICS),” she notes. “The spectrum ranges from mild sleep or anxiety issues to ongoing medical problems or device dependence.”

This case is emblematic of the challenges children face once an acute medical crisis is over -- a phase often overshadowed by the relief of survival. Children who leave the ICU after a long stay often struggle to