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. 2021 Jun;180(6):1969-1973.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-03968-6. Epub 2021 Jan 30.

Bronchiolitis in COVID-19 times: a nearly absent disease?

Daan Van Brusselen  1   2   3 , Katrien De Troeyer  4 , Eva Ter Haar  5 , Ann Vander Auwera  6 , Katleen Poschet  6 , Sascha Van Nuijs  6 , An Bael  7   8 , Kim Stobbelaar  9   10 , Stijn Verhulst  9   10 , Bruno Van Herendael  11   12 , Philippe Willems  11   12 , Melissa Vermeulen  13 , Jeroen De Man  14 , Nathalie Bossuyt  13 , Koen Vanden Driessche  9   15
Affiliations

Bronchiolitis in COVID-19 times: a nearly absent disease?

Daan Van Brusselen et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Stay-at-home orders, physical distancing, face masks and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) do not only impact COVID-19, but also the dynamics of various other infectious diseases. Bronchiolitis is a clinically diagnosed viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, and causes a yearly seasonal wave of admissions in paediatric wards worldwide. We counted 92,5% less bronchiolitis hospitalisations in Antwerp before the expected end of the peak this year (of which only 1 RSV positive), as compared to the last 3 years. Furthermore, there was a >99% reduction in the number of registered RSV cases in Belgium.Conslusion: The 2020 winter bronchiolitis peak is hitherto nonexistent, but we fear a 'delayed' spring/summer bronchiolitis peak when most NPIs will be relaxed and pre-pandemic life restarts. What is known? • Bronchiolitis causes a yearly seasonal wave of admissions in paediatric departments worldwide. • Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) do not only impact COVID-19, but also the dynamics of various other infectious diseases. What is new? • The 2020 winter bronchiolitis peak is hitherto nonexistent. • A 'delayed' spring or summer bronchiolitis peak could happen when most NPIs will be relaxed and pre-pandemic life restarts.

Keywords: Bronchiolitis; COVID-19; Lockdown; Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs); Paediatric Infections; RSV.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. All participants have reviewed the final draft.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Weekly number of laboratory-confirmed RSV tests reported by the sentinel network of laboratories, seasons 2017-2020, Belgium (Sciensano)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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