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Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Pediatric Infections
Naomi Sakon1, Tomoko Takahashi2, Toshiaki Yoshida1
1Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka 5370025, Japan.
Insights
Societal infection control measures like masking and distancing significantly reduced pediatric infections. These findings highlight the effectiveness of public health interventions in protecting younger populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Societal implementation of COVID-19 infection control measures (hand hygiene, masking, social distancing) began mid-2020.
- The impact of these measures on pediatric infections remains under-assessed.
- Publicly available data on 11 pediatric infections from sentinel sites in Japan since 2010 were utilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically assess the suppressive effect of general infection control measures on pediatric infections.
- To compare pediatric infection rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of weekly reported data for 11 pediatric infections in Osaka and Iwate prefectures.
- Comparison of 2020-2021 infection rates against a 5-year average (2015-2019).
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in 6 out of 11 pediatric infections was observed during 2020-2021.
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection became endemic in 2021.
- Exanthem subitum showed less impact from COVID-19 countermeasures compared to other infections.
Conclusions:
- Socially implemented infectious disease control measures effectively reduced certain pediatric infections.
- These findings suggest high efficacy in younger age groups, where adherence may be lower than in adults.
Abstract:
(1) Background: General infection control measures have been implemented at the societal level against COVID-19 since the middle of 2020, namely, hand hygiene, universal masking, and social distancing. The suppressive effect of the social implementation of general infection control measures on pediatric infections has not been systematically assessed. (2) Methods: We addressed this issue based on publicly available data on 11 pediatric infections reported weekly by sentinel sites in Osaka and Iwate prefectures in Japan since 2010. We obtained the 5-year average for 2015-2019 and compared it to the weekly report for 2020-2021. (3) Results: The rate of 6 of the 11 pediatric infections decreased significantly during 2020-2021, regardless of the magnitude of the prevalence of COVID-19 in both areas. However, only RSV infection, one of the six infections, was endemic in 2021. Exanthem subitum was not as affected by COVID-19 countermeasures as other diseases. (4) Conclusions: The social implementation of infectious disease control measures was effective in controling certain infectious diseases in younger age groups, where compliance with the countermeasures should not be as high as that of adults.
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