Children, Gut Health, and Long COVID

In recent years, families have found themselves navigating a new landscape of children’s health. What used to be a simple virus can leave lasting effects, such as fatigue, brain fog, or mood changes, long after the fever has subsided. Parents are noticing subtle yet troubling shifts in behavior and cognition, while clinicians are uncovering deeper roots, including disruptions in the gut microbiome, hormonal changes during growth, the hidden burden of environmental toxins, and even mitochondrial dysfunction. The resilience that so often defines childhood is being tested in complex ways, with physical, emotional, and environmental factors intertwining like never before.

In this episode, Dr. Elisa Song joins Dr. Eric Gordon to discuss how long COVID shows up in children, the emerging science around the gut-brain connection, and the role of toxins and metabolic imbalances in shaping pediatric health. 

Episode Highlights

• Kids may look healthy after COVID, yet parents notice quiet shifts such as brain fog, mood swings, or loss of focus that point to deeper disruptions.
• The gut is not just about digestion; it is a command center for immunity, inflammation, and even how children think and feel.
• Puberty adds a hidden layer of complexity with hormonal changes amplifying the effects of toxins, infections, and stress.
• Mitochondria are often overlooked in pediatrics, yet dysfunction here can explain fatigue, headaches, and learning struggles.

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About Elisa Song, MD

Dr. Song is a Stanford, NYU, and UCSF trained integrative pediatrician, functional medicine expert, and bestselling author of “Healthy Kids Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician’s Guide to Whole Child Resilience”. Through her practice and online resource Healthy Kids Happy Kids, she has helped thousands of families bridge conventional and integrative medicine to address root causes and support children’s long-term health.

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.