Abstract:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome infection (SARS-CoV-2), declared a pandemic by WHO in March 2020, has become an unprecedented public health problem leading to economic and social crises. The first confirmed pediatric case was reported in Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China on January 20 and many pediatric case reports and case series have been reported since then. In these reports, it is stated that in addition to the asymptomatic course of the disease in children, there may be more serious complications such as respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. However, it is emphasized that other problems hidden in addition to the direct effects of the disease, especially in children, and the indirect effects of the pandemic, cause and will continue to cause more serious problems. The effects of the pandemic on children’s mental and physical health, along with reasons such as the closure of schools and the decrease in peer interaction, cause concern. During the pandemic process, the problem of food insecurity has deepened and infant and child nutrition has been affected. In this direction, this review aims to reveal infant and child feeding problems, the factors that cause these problems and the strategies to prevent these problems, and our roles in informing and counseling children and families during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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