Covid: psychological disorders and suicide attempts in boys tripled, at the start of the study

Rome, 30 April (beraking latest news Salute) – “What worries us today are the consequences of Covid (long Covid) and the lockdown on children. We have seen psychological problems, suicide attempts and self-harm tripled”. Pulmonologist Fabio Midulla, head of the pediatric emergency room at the Policlinico Umberto I in Rome and president of the Italian Society for Childhood Respiratory Diseases (Simri) explains this to beraking latest news Salute. Precisely for these collateral aspects to the pandemic, Simri has decided to investigate the phenomenon. “A 6-step clinical program to assess what are (and if there are) the long-term effects of Covid-19 on pediatric age – reports the pulmonologist – It is called ‘Knowing to prevent’ and is promoted by Simri, a scientific society affiliated with the Italian Society of Pediatrics “.

“We have created a road map of examinations to be carried out on minors between 0 and 18 who have had the disease, both symptomatic and asymptomatic – explains Midulla – focusing on the pneumological evaluation because, as we know, Sars-CoV infection -2 mainly affects the respiratory system “. The aim of the clinical program is “to try to identify early pulmonary problems which, if detected earlier, can be resolved more brilliantly”. For this purpose, the road map provides some tests (antibody dosage, pneumological examination, basal oximetry, respiratory function tests, ‘walking test’ and lung ultrasound) to be done, according to Simri indications, three months after acute Sars CoV infection. -2.

“From the follow-ups we performed at the Polyclinic (150 in two months) we realized that most of the children are fine, they do not have major pneumological problems. The ‘long Covid’, especially in children aged 12 and over , it is more of a psychological type – recalls Midulla – Umberto I, in fact, is accompanied by a neurological evaluation “.

“We see children with anxiety, depression, fear of what can happen to them or who somatize a whole series of symptoms such as cough, headache, joint pain”, warns the expert. But not only. “In our emergency room we have noticed many more pre-adolescents and adolescents arrived for episodes of self-harm, acts that go to the extreme. Teenagers – he concludes – were probably the age group most affected by the restrictions due to the pandemic and who suffered most from the lockdown “.