Risks for Children's Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Call for Maintenance of Essential Paediatric Services

The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown have had drastic socioeconomic and psychological effects on countries and people, respectively. This has had a major impact on children and adolescents, affecting their physical, intellectual, and emotional development. Approximately 90% of children and adolescents, estimated as 1.5 billion young people worldwide, have been obliged to stay at home, significantly influencing their health and social functioning, There has been limited access to health care and education. These negative consequences have had a significant impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. Therefore, the European Acacdemy of Paediatrics and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians are requesting state, health, and education authorities as well as European paediatric societies and the healthcare professionals that special attention be given to this population and the problems they face as a result of the pandemic.

Open access: frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.679803/full