Telemedicine in pediatrics: a critical narrative review of innovations, limitations, and future priorities.

Telemedicine in pediatrics: a critical narrative review of innovations, limitations, and future priorities.

Publication date: Aug 01, 2026

This narrative review synthesizes recent technological and organizational developments in pediatric telemedicine, maps their principal clinical applications, and critically discusses implementation, safety, equity, and future priorities. This narrative review used a transparent, non-systematic literature-search approach in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, considering publications available through April 2026. Searches were intended to identify and contextualize relevant literature across pediatric settings rather than to provide an exhaustive, reproducible systematic evidence synthesis. No formal risk-of-bias assessment, meta-analysis, or certainty-of-evidence grading was undertaken; therefore, findings are interpreted cautiously and according to the maturity and consistency of the available evidence. Evidence suggests that telemedicine can support follow-up, access to specialist care, and family engagement in several pediatric chronic-care pathways, particularly diabetes and asthma. However, the evidence base is heterogeneous across specialties, frequently relies on observational or implementation studies, and is less mature for acute assessment, neonatal and rehabilitation uses, wearables, and AI-enabled tools. Telemedicine should be considered a complementary component of pediatric healthcare rather than a replacement for in-person assessment. Hybrid models may support accessibility, continuity, and sustainability when embedded in structured, patient-centered, equitable, and clinically appropriate pathways. • Telemedicine expanded rapidly in pediatrics during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now used across many specialties. • It can improve access, continuity of care, remote monitoring, and family engagement, especially in chronic and complex conditions. • This review summarizes recent technological and organizational innovations, including wearables, mHealth, EHR integration, AI, and hybrid care models. • It highlights current limits and future requirements for safe, equitable, and sustainable integration into routine pediatric care.

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Concepts Keywords
April Child
Diabetes Digital Health
Google Digital health
Pediatrics Humans
Sustainability Pediatric chronic diseases
Pediatric telemedicine
Pediatrics
Remote monitoring
Telehealth
Telemedicine
Virtual care

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH asthma
pathway KEGG Asthma
disease MESH COVID-19 pandemic
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
disease MESH chronic diseases
disease MESH ADHD
disease MESH Autism spectrum disorder
disease MESH CBT
disease MESH Cystic fibrosis
drug DRUGBANK Dextrose unspecified form
disease MESH Emergency
disease MESH encephalopathy
disease MESH T1D
drug DRUGBANK Serine
disease MESH face
disease MESH included
drug DRUGBANK Oxygen
disease MESH hypoglycemia
disease MESH respiratory diseases
disease MESH pediatric obesity
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH SMS
disease MESH obesity
disease MESH juvenile idiopathic arthritis
disease MESH neurodevelopmental disorders
disease MESH ers
disease MESH mul
disease MESH T1DX
disease MESH tals
disease MESH wound
drug DRUGBANK Glycine
disease MESH ketoacidosis
disease MESH cardiomyopathies
disease MESH congenital heart disease
disease MESH clinical deterioration
disease MESH pulmonary hypertension
disease MESH epilepsy
disease MESH headache
disease MESH dis
disease MESH movement disorders
drug DRUGBANK Indoleacetic acid
disease MESH strain
drug DRUGBANK Huperzine B
disease MESH anxiety
disease MESH chronic pain
disease MESH sleep disorders
disease MESH eating disorders
disease MESH seizure
disease MESH hos
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
drug DRUGBANK Spinosad
pathway REACTOME Reproduction
disease MESH cep
disease MESH Sens
disease MESH Mas
disease MESH Pain
disease MESH FHC
disease MESH Allergy
disease MESH Mota
disease MESH CMD
drug DRUGBANK (S)-Des-Me-Ampa
disease MESH developmental disabilities
disease MESH Burns
disease MESH ACP
disease MESH diabetes mellitus
drug DRUGBANK Honey
disease MESH mel
disease MESH pulmonary disease
disease MESH Sao
disease MESH Fed
drug DRUGBANK Aminohippuric acid
disease MESH Car
disease MESH mental disorders
disease MESH Autism
disease MESH obsessive compulsive disorder
disease MESH social anxiety disorder
disease MESH anorexia nervosa
drug DRUGBANK Ethanol
drug DRUGBANK Medical Cannabis
disease MESH Gan
drug DRUGBANK Hydroxyethyl Starch
disease MESH hes
disease MESH hypothermia
disease MESH hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
disease MESH CCM

Original Article

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