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Changing patterns of infectious diseases in children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ming-Chun Yang1,2, Yu-Tsun Su1,3, Ping-Hong Chen1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|July 17, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Public health measures during COVID-19 disrupted infectious disease patterns. Lifting these measures has led to increased respiratory virus infections in children due to immunity debt, risking future epidemics.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infectious diseases historically exhibit distinct epidemic patterns and seasonality.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic prompted public health interventions that altered these patterns.
  • Reduced circulation of various pathogens occurred during stringent COVID-19 mitigation periods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on infectious disease dynamics in children.
  • To examine the resurgence patterns of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses post-pandemic.
  • To forecast potential future epidemic scenarios, including twindemics and tripledemics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological data on infectious diseases.
  • Analysis of disease incidence trends before, during, and after COVID-19 mitigation.
  • Assessment of factors contributing to altered seasonality and increased incidence.

Main Results:

  • Stringent COVID-19 measures led to decreased incidence of influenza, RSV, pneumococcus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza.
  • Lifting of measures, coupled with SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and vaccination, has resulted in "off-season" and "upsurge" patterns for other respiratory viruses in children.
  • An "immunity debt" phenomenon is observed, increasing children's susceptibility to various infections.

Conclusions:

  • The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions has led to a resurgence of various infectious diseases in children, driven by immunity debt.
  • The potential for co-circulating pathogens poses a risk of "twindemics" or "tripledemics" in the coming years.
  • Continued emphasis on hand hygiene and routine immunizations is crucial to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases on pediatric populations.

Keywords:
coronavirus disease 2019immune debtinfluenzapediatricpneumococcusrespiratory syncytial virusrespiratory tract infection

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