The findings of a study published in the Journal of Child Neurology showed that the COVID-19 pandemic hurt children’s mental health, as many pediatric patients suffered from headaches. The study found that during the pandemic, pediatric patients experienced more frequent pain and worsening anxiety issues. The study revealed that elevated stress associated with disruptions to daily life, social distancing practices, and anxiety about the threat of illness to oneself and others brought on by the pandemic impacted the quality of life for kids with headache disorders.

Lead author Dr. Marc DiSabella, D.O., director of the Headache Program at Childrens National Hospital, stated that it is important to gain a better understanding of how stress and changes in routine affect childrens well-being and mood. He added that migraine and other headache disorders are exceedingly common in adolescents and children. For this study, 107 patients completed a questionnaire from summer 2020 to winter 2021 that examined the changes in headache characteristics and lifestyle factors since the start of the pandemic.

The study revealed that during the pre-pandemic period, 60% of patients had headaches for less than 15 days in a month. However, the number of patients reporting constant daily headaches went from 22% pre-pandemic to 36% at the start of the pandemic. 49% of patients reported that their headaches had worsened since the onset of the pandemic. Also, 54% of patients reported that their physical activity levels decreased because of the pandemic. The authors of the study stated that though the role of increased screen time on headaches has not been established, patients and families have cited screen use as a trigger for headaches.

While the study was limited by sample size and observational design, future population-based studies can explain the impact of this pandemic on kids who suffer from headaches. In the interim, Dr. DiSabella recommended that parents talk with their children about how the pandemic has impacted their headaches and mood. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/the-pandemic-had-negative-impact-on-childrens-mental-health-study/93388025 )