Covid infections among the very young of school age are still rising but hospitalizations are decreasing.
This was revealed by the Higher Institute of Health in the latest monitoring: on the data front, in the last week the infections in school age rose to 24% compared to 20% of the previous survey and the reopening of schools with greater screening activity, notes the ISS in the focus on the age group under 19, could be the reason for this growth. Furthermore, explains the ISS, in the last week 13% of school-age cases were diagnosed in children under 5, 38% in the 5-11 age group, 48% in the 12-19 age group. years.

The growth of the incidence rate slows down in the 12-15 and 16-19 age groups, while the cases diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants in the 5-11 age group and in children under 5 years are increasing. The band with the greatest increase on the incidence front was 10-19 years. However, we are looking at a "detectable decrease in the hospitalization rate in all age groups 0-19 years". In total, from the beginning of the epidemic to 12 January 2022, 1,698,273 cases were diagnosed in the population 0-19 years of age, of which 11,573 hospitalizations, 291 admissions to intensive care and 38 deaths.

THE CONSEQUENCES - Those who deal with the consequences on the psychological health of children in the field draw an initial assessment of the long-Covid in children, highlighting an increase in anxiety and phobias from lockdown and distance learning.

"The new living conditions of families and distance learning have had an impact on minors and we see this from the emergence of emotional distress, difficulties in building self-image and, obviously, in relationships with peers", affirm Mirko. Cristofori and Sabina Baratelli, respectively psychotherapist and coordinator of the service and child neuropsychiatrist of the clinic of the S.Ambrogio Fatebenefratelli center in Cernusco sul Naviglio, where the Zero-17 service aimed at post-Covid minors is active, managed in synergy with the pediatric emergency room of the Ospedale di Erba: "From the first visits, we perceive signs of a difficulty in emotional regulation with possible manifestations of acute anxiety, phobias, withdrawal, sleep or eating disorders".

(Unioneonline / D)

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