The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Malignancy Diagnosis and Treatment: Never the Same but Lessons Learned

Katato, Ghadir; Sitaula, Prasiksha; Gupte, Avanti; Al-Antary, Eman T.

doi:10.3390/vaccines11030667

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…This phenomenon increased telemedicine consultations, a mechanism adopted in countries such as Norway (health care by telephone/video call) to prevent any delay in diagnosis and treatment [68].…”

Section: Considerations Regarding Pediatric Cancer Patient Care In Th...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in Treating Pediatric Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Risks and Care

Chávez-Pacheco,

Castillejos-López,

Hernández-Regino

et al. 2024

Viruses

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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of fatalities worldwide. The case of pediatric cancer patients stands out since, despite being considered a population at risk, few studies have been carried out concerning symptom detection or the description of the mechanisms capable of modifying the course of the COVID-19 disease, such as the interaction and response between the virus and the treatment given to cancer patients. By synthesizing existing studies, this paper aims to expose the treatment challenges for pediatric patients with COVID-19 in an oncology context. Additionally, this updated review includes studies that utilized the antiviral agents Remdesivir and PaxlovidTM in pediatric cancer patients. There is no specific treatment designed exclusively for pediatric cancer patients dealing with COVID-19, and it is advisable to avoid self-medication to prevent potential side effects. Managing COVID-19 in pediatric cancer patients is indeed a substantial challenge. New strategies, such as chemotherapy application rooms, have been implemented for children with cancer who were positive for COVID-19 but asymptomatic since the risk of disease progression is greater than the risk of complications from SARS-CoV-2.

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Section: Considerations Regarding Pediatric Cancer Patient Care In Th...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in Treating Pediatric Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Risks and Care

Chávez-Pacheco,

Castillejos-López,

Hernández-Regino

et al. 2024

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Faced with enormous challenges, the Chinese government responded by adopting certain policies to mitigate the spread of the virus while preserving public health benefits as much as possible ( 3 , 4 ). Several studies around the world reported that there were concerns about the side effects of the pandemic on pediatric cancer care, such as prevention from early diagnosis, delayed chemotherapy, reduced access to surgery, radiotherapy, and supportive care ( 5 , 6 ). However, it is worth noting that there is a lack of research in this area in China.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demographic and disease burden of pediatric malignant solid tumors in China: a single-center, cross-sectional study

Jiang,

Yang,

Yang

et al. 2024

Transl Pediatr

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Background With the development of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), China implemented measures in an attempt to control the infection rate. We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional study to ascertain the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the equitable availability of medical resources for children diagnosed with malignant solid tumors in China. Methods Data on the demographics, clinical characteristics, and medical expenses of 876 patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma (HB), Ewing sarcoma (ES), and central nervous system (CNS) tumors from 2019 to 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, were retrospectively collected from the National Center for Children’s Health. The Pearson χ 2 test and Mann-Whitney test were performed to analyze the differences among variables. Results Except for the regional origin of children with tumors during the epidemic, no significant differences were found in the demographic or clinical characteristics of patients at initial diagnosis. The number of patients from northern China and northeastern China who attended Beijing Children’s Hospital (BCH) increased after the outbreak of COVID-19 (P=0.001). There was no significant alteration observed in the frequency of hospitalizations per individual per annum (P=0.641) or the mean expense incurred per individual per hospitalization (P=0.361). In addition, the medical insurance coverage rate of real-time settlement increased year by year. Conclusions After the COVID-19 outbreak, the origin of patients with solid tumor who visited BCH was concentrated in the northern region of China. COVID-19 had no impact on the other demographic factors, clinical characteristics, or economic burden of patients with pediatric malignant solid tumors.

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Examining the Effect of Parental COVID‐19 Vaccination Prior to Birth and the Association Between COVID‐19 and Cancer in Children Under Six

Behnaz,

Hossein,

Morteza

et al. 2024

Health Planning & Management

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IntroductionThe biology of COVID‐19 has intricate links to childhood cancer, exacerbated by pandemic disturbances. This research aims to explore the association between childhood cancer in children under 6 years old and COVID‐19 immunisation, in addition to the effects of vaccination on parents before delivery.MethodThe study employs a case‐control approach, gathering informed consent and matching factors like age, marital status, and socioeconomic status between cases and controls. A survey was distributed, culminating in 191 children under six, with data from 136 diagnosed cancer cases collected in 2023, adhering to methodological standards in epidemiological research. The analysis utilised SPSS28, employing chi‐square testing and logistic regression.ResultChi‐square testing confirmed a significant rise in childhood cancer rates post‐COVID‐19 pandemic compared to pre‐pandemic rates. Key factors influencing cancer incidence include the mother's age at childbirth, parental vaccination history before pregnancy, maternal vaccination details during pregnancy, the child's COVID‐19 infection status, and maternal marriage age. Notably, younger mothers faced higher COVID‐19 infection risks, but vaccination appears to mitigate paediatric cancer risk.ConclusionThe post‐pandemic surge in childhood cancer underscores a complex interplay of early exposures and maternal viral infections. Emphasising vaccination's protective effects before and during pregnancy, the study advocates integrating vaccination into maternal health programs. Public health measures should promote immunisation and address socioeconomic inequalities to lower paediatric cancer risk, aligning with previous studies linking parental health behaviours to childhood cancer incidence.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Malignancy Diagnosis and Treatment: Never the Same but Lessons Learned

Cited by 6 publications

References 64 publications

Challenges in Treating Pediatric Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Risks and Care

Challenges in Treating Pediatric Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Risks and Care

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demographic and disease burden of pediatric malignant solid tumors in China: a single-center, cross-sectional study

Examining the Effect of Parental COVID‐19 Vaccination Prior to Birth and the Association Between COVID‐19 and Cancer in Children Under Six

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