Published: August 19, 2020
Psychosocial, biological, and immunological risks for children and pupils make long-term wearing of mouth masks difficult to maintain. SARS-COV-2 infection and transmission in children and adolescents is low and WHO experts advised that use of facemasks is not recommended as potential benefits are rather limited and there is a potential risk of self-contamination if used improperly.
Published: June 18, 2020
A team of Italian plastic surgeons published concerns in June 2020 that the underdeveloped cartilage of children’s ears will be deformed by the prolonged usage of face masks wrapping around the ears. This type of deformation, according to the researchers, is particularly difficult to correct later in life.
Published: October 30, 2021
Kids’ weight has spiked during the pandemic, but it’s part of a long-term trend. Before COVID-19, obesity affected around 20% of American children 2 to 19 years of age. Now, the numbers are expected to rise much further, with modeling studies predicting at least a 3% to 4% weight gain in children during the pandemic.
Obesity and overweight have soared among my patients due to a number of factors directly related to the pandemic, including less access to physical education at school, a drop in extracurricular sports activities, and fewer healthy food choices because of financial challenges and shopping restrictions. The pandemic also exacerbated an already existing mental health crisis in youth, with an increase in emotional eating among children who are experiencing greater anxiety and depression.
