Hospitalizations among children during the COVID-19 pandemic declined, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but those who were hospitalized were mostly due to the coronavirus. The study diagnosed children up to the age of 17 years, splitting them into three groups of 0–4, 5–11, and 12–17 years. “Compared with 2019, overall pediatric emergency department visits decreased by 51 percent, 22 percent, and 23 percent during 2020, 2021, and January 2022, respectively,” according to the Feb. 18 report. “COVID-19 visits predominated across all pediatric ages; visits for other respiratory illnesses mostly declined. Number and proportion of visits increased for certain injuries (e.g., firearm injuries, self-harm, and drug poisonings), some chronic diseases, and behavioral health concerns, with variations by age group.” Pediatric emergency department visits “declined sharply” during 2020 as compared to 2019. During January 2021 and January 2022, emergency department visits remained lower …
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