Welcome to the 9th EAPS Congress Programme Scheduling

Abstract Body

Whilst acute COVID-19 has generally been milder in children and young people (CYP) compared to adults, there is concern that they may suffer long-term symptoms. There is a need to define the clinical phenotype, CYP most at risk, the natural course of the condition and evaluate preventive and therapeutic strategies for both mental health and physical symptoms.

Systematic reviews have found the frequency of the majority of reported persistent symptoms is similar in SARS-CoV-2 positive cases and controls, although generally slightly more common in children and young people infected with SARS-COV-2.

The CLoCk study is a cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive CYP aged 11-17 years, matched by month of test, age, sex, and geographical area to SARS-CoV-2 test-negative CYP. Factors associated with persisting, impairing symptoms include increased number of symptoms at the time of testing, female sex, older age, worse self-rated physical and mental health, and feelings of loneliness pre-infection.

There remains much uncertainty about the prevalence, natural history, risk factors, mechanisms and outcomes of long COVID in CYP. Nevertheless, we are better informed now than in 2020 when estimates of long COVID CYP ranged from 1%-51% after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Whilst some CYP are severely affected and incapacitated long after the initial illness, the majority of studies show a milder phenotype in CYP.

This talk will highlight the importance of a control group in studies following SARS-CoV-2 infection, the need for case definitions and continuing research.

Abstract Body

The COVID-19 pandemic has led us to a great and rapid change in our society. Although children and adolescents are somewhat less likely to experience severe symptoms from COVID-19, the pandemic has caused widespread and profound disruptions in their daily life with no immediate return to previous baselines leading to impact in many aspects of their health. One of the short-term consequence is been diminished the access to care with less developmental surveillance and decreased immunization rates. Another foreseeable and concerning consequence related to physical health is nutrition, in particular an increase in food insecurity, therefore an increase of childhood obesity. This situation also may lead to a most serious consequence, a failure to timely identify child abuse or maltreatment. It is also known that increased screen time, school closures, and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic have likely had a negative impact on children’s development leading to a delay in the identification and intervention of learning and other developmental problems. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and it is causing major physical, psychological, educational, development, behavioural and social health consequences, several steps can be taken by paediatricians and caregivers to address the short-term and long-term health needs of children. Screening tools and instruments used by paediatricians must be developed to identify high-risk groups, including children with severe psychological burdens, toxic home environments, unaddressed developmental concerns, or perhaps simply, children who struggle with return to previous routines and expectations once things begin to return to a new baseline. It is needed to identify and evaluate any additional COVID-related challenges and concerns that adversely impact the growth and development of children and adolescents.