AUTHOR=Passanisi Stefano , Pecoraro Maria , Pira Francesco , Alibrandi Angela , Donia Vittoria , Lonia Paola , Pajno Giovanni Battista , Salzano Giuseppina , Lombardo Fortunato 

TITLE=Quarantine Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Perspective of Pediatric Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Web-Based Survey

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.00491

DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.00491

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> A crucial aspect of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was the psychological impact on the population. Most countries issued restrictive laws to reduce community-based viral spread. Children and adolescents were forced to experience physical and social distancing. Subjects with chronic diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, were more vulnerable and at higher risk of developing psychological disorders.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a web-based survey to investigate the behavioral responses during quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak in a cohort of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. Data were collected on demographic and clinical characteristics, lifestyle changes, and the impact of COVID-19 on the management of diabetes.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Two hundred four pediatric patients (aged 5–18 years) with type 1 diabetes completed the questionnaire. Interestingly, patients ≤12 years were significantly more influenced by the quarantine period in their approach to the disease than older patients.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Although quarantine was a stressful psychological condition, our results showed that most children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes developed high levels of resilience and excellent coping skills by using technology in a proper way.</p>