Risks to children and young people during covid-19 pandemic

Measures being taken to control the spread of covid-19 are causing what has been dubbed a "secondary pandemic" 1 of child neglect and abuse.As one senior paediatrician summed it up: "Children are perversely suffering for the benefit of adults." 2The need to reduce the clinical effect on adults is urgent.However, in a very British fashion, 3 the secondary harm being done to the adults of the future, when there is already an established child health crisis in the UK, 4 is not being properly considered.This must change.