The second-order effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on pediatric populations

Yonker, Lael M., Dredge, David, Munro, Alasdair, Di Chiara, Costanza, Cotugno, Nicola and Buonsenso, Danilo (2025) The second-order effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on pediatric populations. Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy, 23 (10), 997-1009. (doi:10.1080/14787210.2025.2575044).

Abstract

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 can have long-term health consequences that persist beyond acute infection. While this is evident in adults and the elderly, the impact on children and adolescents remains under recognized. Here we navigate the second-order post-acute effects that the COVID-19 has had on the pediatric populations, with the exception of the mental health implication of social restrictions. Areas covered: We outline common scenarios related with SARS-CoV-2 infection encountered in pediatric clinical practice, such as in the Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), Long Covid, neurological and autoimmune complications of Covid-19, immunological impact of the viral infection, as well as epidemiological and public health consequences associated with the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions. Expert opinion: SARS-CoV-2 has had several second-order effects on child health, from a biological, epidemiological, and public health perspective, highlighting the complexity of dealing with new infections and the urgent need to implement multidisciplinary interventions that support the health of people at single person and societal level. Funding on modern surveillance system, preventing strategies and research to better understand and cure post-acute complications of viral infections should be a priority of every funding agency.

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Contributors

Author: Alasdair Munro

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