Neurodevelopmental disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic in pediatric patients

Abstract

The development of the central nervous system is a basic, dynamic and constant brain process that begins during the
embryonic period and continues until early adulthood. Neurodevelopmental disorders involve any disruption or weakness of
these processes, resulting from an interaction of genetic, environmental, and sociocultural factors. Exposure to the SARS-CoV-2
virus during the prenatal period, regardless of the trimester, produces alterations in the fine and gross motor domain; Likewise,
exposure during the second and third trimester produces additional alterations in the socioemotional domain. On the other
hand, prolonged quarantine, sedentary lifestyle and abuse of entertainment technologies have an impact on the areas: gross,
fine motor, language, and socio-emotional, so these antecedents must be considered in well child visits in the office. Therefore,
a bibliographic review was carried out including original articles, meta-analysis and review articles, with an obsolescence of
five years, which studied this relationship. This study aims to determine neurodevelopmental disorders due to the COVID-19
pandemic in pediatric patients. A medical record of SARS-CoV-2 infection and having experienced the pandemic containment
measures during early childhood should be considered risk factors for the development of neurodevelopmental disorders.