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. 2022 Apr;50(2):519-524.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01756-4. Epub 2022 Jan 25.

The rising of old foes: impact of lockdown periods on "non-SARS-CoV-2" viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections

Nicole Maison  1   2   3 , Ana Peck  4 , Sabina Illi  5   6 , Melanie Meyer-Buehn  7 , Erika von Mutius  4   5   6 , Johannes Hübner  7 , Ulrich von Both  7   8
Affiliations

The rising of old foes: impact of lockdown periods on "non-SARS-CoV-2" viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections

Nicole Maison et al. Infection. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; Impact; Lockdown; Pandemic; Rhinovirus; Viral infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

Nicole Maison, Ulrich von Both, Johannes Huebner, Ana Peck, Sabina Illi, Melanie Meyer-Buehn have no conflict of interest. Erika von Mutius received consulting fees and funding for the research project “Impact of COVID 19 pandemic on patients with asthma and wheeze” from OM Pharma S.A.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of all respiratory viruses detected between 2017 and 2021. In Germany, the first lockdown was imposed from March 2020 to May 2020, and the second lockdown from December 2020 to March 2021. A All respiratory virus detections including influenza A, influenza B, Rhino/Entero-, and respiratory syncytial virus. Adeno-virus from 2017 to 2021. B Rhino/Enterovirus detections from 2017 to 2021. C Respiratory syncytial virus detection from 2017 to 2021
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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