Addressing the indirect effects of COVID-19 on the health of children and young people

Chanchlani et al examine the indirect effects of COVID-19 on the health of children and young people. As of June 21, 2020, 6,982 individuals in Canada aged 19 years and younger, hereafter referred to as children and young people, had tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, leading to 98 hospital admissions and 20 intensive care admissions, but no deaths. Aside from cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), for which understanding is still developing worldwide, children and young people have been more mildly affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than adults. Countries that have seen substantial disruption to usual medical services and widespread public health measures related to COVID-19 are likely to see both immediate and long-term indirect effects of the pandemic on health. The potential adverse effects on children and young people's health may be underappreciated. Moreover, the limited access to primary and secondary health care, the parental fear of seeking health care, the closures of daycare and schools, employment and financial instability, and the greater risk of exposure to adverse childhood experiences are discussed.