Long-lasting effects of COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalizations and severity of bronchiolitis

Conclusions:  Compared to adults, COVID-19 in infants is often asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and rarely results in hospitalization. This study indicates that the pandemic has indirectly induced an increased burden of bronchiolitis among hospitalized infants. This shift, which is not explained by the recog nized risk factors, suggests the existence of higher infant vulnerability during the last two seasons.What is known:• The pandemic led to a change in epidemiology of respiratory diseases• Large data on severity of bronchiolitis and underlying risk factors before and during COVID-19 pandemic are scarceWhat is new:• Compared to pre-pandemic period, hospitalizations for bronchiolitis decreased in 2020–21 and gradually increased in 2021–22 and 2022–23• Compared to pre-pandemic period, higher disease burden occurred in 2021–22 and, especially, in 2022–23. This tendency persisted after adjusting for risk factors associated with bronchiolitis severity• The interplay among viruses, preventive measures, and the infant health deserves to be further investigated
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research