CLEVELAND — COVID-19 has had an impact on our way of living for the last three months. And now, pediatricians are concerned for the safety of our young children because parents are not taking their kids in for wellness visits.
According to MetroHealth, their pediatricians have seen a decrease in the number of infants and children coming in for preventative visits and vaccinations. During the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics say that doctor visits have dropped 60 percent across the country due to COVID-19.
“This is mostly because of families’ concerns about COVID-19 and parents worried about bringing their children to the doctors,” said Dr. Nazha Abughali, Chair of Pediatrics at MetroHealth. “We, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, want parents to know that avoiding getting necessary healthcare for your child may lead to an increase in vaccine preventable diseases and other health problems.”
There are many reasons why it's very important for kids to stay up-to-date with their doctor visits. According to the AAP, here are some issues that could pop up if your kids miss an appointment.
- Mental health problems in children and teenagers such as depression and anxiety.
- Flare-ups of certain chronic conditions like asthma, allergies and diabetes.
- Lower rates of immunizations to preventable and highly contagious diseases such as Measles and whooping cough.
- Delayed diagnoses of illnesses and developmental problems such as autism.
If you do have an appointment, MetroHealth wants you to know that they are following all safety guidelines including wearing masks, deep cleaning, checking temperatures, limiting visitors and social distancing in waiting areas.
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