The rising of old foes: Impact of lockdown periods on “non-SARS-CoV-2” viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Infection 50, 519-524 (2022)
Background: During COVID-19-related public health non-pharmaceutical prevention measures, such as social distancing, lockdown periods and use of face masks, a decrease in viral respiratory and gastroenterological infections was observed worldwide. Following discontinuation of preventative measures, a potential increase of respective infections outside of their usual seasons was a matter of concern. Method: We aimed to illustrate annual distribution of confirmed viral infections between 2017 and 2021 based on 32,506 clinical samples in a German pediatric tertiary care center and to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of these infections in children. Results: While a decrease in overall viral infections was observed during the first and second lockdown period, an extraordinary increase in the number of viral respiratory infections, predominantly caused by human Rhino-/Enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was observed after relaxation of preventive measures. Notably, Rhino-/Enterovirus infections increased 4-fold (2020 vs. 2019) and 16-fold (2021 vs. 2019). The occurrence of RSV was observed beginning from June to August 2021 and reached an all-time record with a 25- to 50-fold increase in numbers in September and October 2021 in relation to previous pre-pandemic years (2017–2019). In contrast, for non-respiratory viruses (i.e. Rota-/Norovirus), the effect on respective seasonal patterns was only minimal compared to previous years. Conclusion: The observed increase in respiratory infections in children is worrying and is already causing hospitals to become overburdened. Enhanced vigilance will be key to face clinical challenges due to these epidemiological changes in viral disease patterns in the months to come.
Impact Factor
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Times Cited
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Covid-19 ; Impact ; Lockdown ; Pandemic ; Rhinovirus ; Viral Infections
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2022
Prepublished im Jahr
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2022
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0300-8126
e-ISSN
1439-0973
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 50,
Heft: 2,
Seiten: 519-524
Artikelnummer: ,
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Urban & Vogel
Verlagsort
Tiergartenstrasse 17, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
Institut(e)
Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention (IAP)
POF Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Allergy
PSP-Element(e)
G-503300-001
Förderungen
Projekt DEAL
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2022-06-07