Children caught in the long shadow of COVID-19
S. Afr. j. child health (Online)
; 15(4): 182-184, 2021.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1354345
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Despite the more transmissible delta variant being associated with higher rates of COVID-19 in unvaccinated adolescents, children have remained relatively spared from severe disease. Nevertheless, children are indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens to have far-reaching consequences. The effect of disruptions of seasonal patterns of circulation of respiratory pathogens on future immunity against such pathogens, childhood immunization programmes, and HIV and tuberculosis treatment programmes poses a threat to the future wellbeing of children. Furthermore, the economic devastation caused by the pandemic, including an increase in unemployment, gives rise to numerous challenges, such as food insecurity, which is likely to worsen childhood nutritional status. Also, COVID-19 has ongoing effects on the mental wellbeing of children, driven in part by the interruption of schooling and other opportunities to socialize. An increase in psychological illnesses has manifested in children consequent to the stresses of the pandemic, lockdowns, caregiver deaths. In this article, we highlight the indirect effects of COVID-19 on children, and suggest solutions to mitigate against the long-term sequelae. A focused health, nutrition, education and child protection response is required from government and healthcare practitioners to safeguard the health and wellbeing of South African children.
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Disease Transmission, Infectious
/
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
/
Immunity
Limits:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. j. child health (Online)
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Department of Critical Care, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand/ZA
/
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand/ZA
/
South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand/ZA
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