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Hou M, Liu G, Meng C, Dong L, Fang Y, Wang L, Wang N, Cai C, Wang H. Circulation patterns and molecular characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus among hospitalized children in Tianjin, China, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2022). Virol Sin 2024:S1995-820X(24)00114-7. [PMID: 39067791 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main pathogen that causes hospitalization for acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) in children. With the reopening of communities and schools, the resurgence of RSV in the COVID-19 post-pandemic era has become a major concern. To understand the circulation patterns and genotype variability of RSV in Tianjin before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of 19,531 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from hospitalized children in Tianjin from July 2017 to June 2022 were evaluated. Direct immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for screening RSV-positive samples and subtyping, respectively. Further analysis of mutations in the second hypervariable region (HVR2) of the G gene was performed through Sanger sequencing. Our results showed that 16.46% (3,215/19,531) samples were RSV positive and a delayed increase in the RSV infection rates occurred in the winter season from December 2020 to February 2021, with the average RSV-positive rate of 35.77% (519/1,451). The ON1, with H258Q and H266L substitutions, and the BA9, with T290I and T312I substitutions, are dominant strains that alternately circulate every 1-2 years in Tianjin, China, from July 2017 to June 2022. In addition, novel substitutions, such as N296Y, K221T, N230K, V251A in the BA9 genotype, and L226I in the ON1 genotype, emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of clinical characteristics indicated no significant differences between RSV-A and RSV-B groups. This study provides a theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment. However, further studies are needed to explore the regulatory mechanism of host immune responses to different lineages of ON1 and BA9 in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhu Hou
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Guangping Liu
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Chao Meng
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Lili Dong
- Department of Respiratory, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Yulian Fang
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Chunquan Cai
- Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, 300134, China.
| | - Hanjie Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University and Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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Someda SK, Takahashi Y. A Comparative Analysis of the Incidence of Pediatric Orbital Fractures Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Japanese Population. Cureus 2024; 16:e54166. [PMID: 38496177 PMCID: PMC10941233 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to compare data on the incidence of pediatric orbital fractures before the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and during the period of the pandemic in the Japanese population. METHODS This retrospective, single-center, observational study including 225 patients (226 sides) aged ≤ 18 years old diagnosed with orbital fracture was conducted in our institution from March 2017 to April 2023. The study compared the incidence of pediatric orbital fractures in the pre-pandemic period from March 2017 to March 2020 and during the pandemic from April 2020 to April 2023. RESULTS The most common cause of injury was sports in both groups (137 sides, 60.6%), and the ratio of causes of injury (P = 0.610) or between outdoor and indoor sports (P = 1.000) was not statistically different between the groups. Although the daily rate of patient consults was lowest during the country's state of emergency with priority preventative measures, the difference between pre-pandemic and pandemic was not statistically significant (P = 0.911). CONCLUSION Despite the restrictions mandated by the Japanese government during the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical activities of children did not significantly decline. Hence, the risk of pediatric orbital fractures remained the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffani Krista Someda
- Oculoplastic, Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, JPN
| | - Yasuhiro Takahashi
- Oculoplastic, Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, JPN
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Thsehla E, Balusik A, Boachie MK, Tombe-Mdewa W, Kabudula C, Du Toit J, Kahn K, Gómez-Olivé FX, Tollman S, Goldstein S, Hofman K. Indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child health in South Africa. Glob Health Action 2023; 16:2153442. [PMID: 36607314 PMCID: PMC9828580 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2153442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unfinished burden of poor maternal and child health contributes to the quadruple burden of disease in South Africa with the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic yet to be fully documented. OBJECTIVE To investigate the indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child health in different geographical regions and relative wealth quintiles. METHODS We estimated the effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child health from April 2020 to June 2021. We estimated this by calculating mean changes across facilities, relative wealth index (RWI) quintiles, geographical areas and provinces. To account for confounding by underlying seasonal or linear trends, we subsequently fitted a segmented fixed effect panel model. RESULTS A total of 4956 public sector facilities were included in the analysis. Between April and September 2020, full immunisation and first dose of measles declined by 6.99% and 2.44%, respectively. In the follow-up months, measles first dose increased by 4.88% while full immunisation remained negative (-0.65%) especially in poorer quintiles. At facility level, the mean change in incidence and mortality due to pneumonia, diarrhoea and severe acute malnutrition was negative. Change in first antenatal visits, delivery by 15-19-year olds, delivery by C-section and maternal mortality was positive but not significant. CONCLUSION COVID-19 disrupted utilisation of child health services. While reduction in child health services at the start of the pandemic was followed by an increase in subsequent months, the recovery was not uniform across different quintiles and geographical areas. This study highlights the disproportionate impact of the pandemic and the need for targeted interventions to improve utilisation of health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Thsehla
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,CONTACT Evelyn Thsehla Second Floor, Wits School of Public Health, Education Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrew’s Road Parktown, Johannesburg2193, South Africa
| | - Adam Balusik
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Micheal Kofi Boachie
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Winfrida Tombe-Mdewa
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Chodziwadziwa Kabudula
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jacques Du Toit
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kathleen Kahn
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Stephen Tollman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Susan Goldstein
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Karen Hofman
- SAMRC/WITS Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Chuang YC, Lin KP, Wang LA, Yeh TK, Liu PY. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Narrative Review. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:661-675. [PMID: 36743336 PMCID: PMC9897071 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s396434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common respiratory viruses. It not only affects young children but also the elderly and immunocompromised patients. After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, a dramatic reduction in RSV activity was found, which coincided with the implementation of public health and social measures (PHSMs). However, the correlation is more complicated than we initially thought. After PHSMs were gradually lifted, a seasonality shift and a delayed RSV outbreak with greater number of infected patients were found in numerous countries, such as Israel, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, France, United States, and Japan. Several hypotheses and possible reasons explaining the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were mentioned. Since RSV vaccinations are still under investigation, administration of palivizumab should be considered in high-risk patients. In the post-COVID-19 era, greater attention should be paid to a further resurgence of RSV. In this narrative review, we conducted a thorough review of the current knowledge on the epidemiology of RSV during the COVID-19 era, the out-of-season outbreak of RSV, and the data on co-infection with RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chuan Chuang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Pei Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-An Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Kuang Yeh
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Yu Liu
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,Ph.D. in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan,Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan,Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan,Correspondence: Po-Yu Liu, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sec. 4, Taiwan Blvd., Xitun Dist, Taichung City, 407219, Taiwan, Tel +886 4 2359 2525, Email
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Neal JT, Monuteaux MC, Porter JJ, Hudgins JD. The Effect of COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders on the Rate of Pediatric Foreign Body Ingestions. J Emerg Med 2022; 63:729-737. [PMID: 36289021 PMCID: PMC9472683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foreign body ingestions are a common presentation in the emergency department (ED), particularly in young children. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had an effect on the proportion of foreign body ingestions. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of the Pediatric Health Information System for patients younger than 19 years who were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes for foreign body ingestion. We analyzed patients in the following three groups: young children (younger than 5 years), school-aged children (5-12 years), and adolescents (13 years and older), using an interrupted time series analysis. Our primary outcome was the difference in proportion of foreign body ingestions. We compared 1 year after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 13, 2020 to March 31, 2021) with the previous 3 years (March 1, 2017 to March 12, 2020). RESULTS Total pediatric ED encounters decreased in the post period (p < 0.01); 4902 patients per year presented for foreign body ingestion pre-COVID-19 shutdown vs. 5235 patients per year post-COVID-19 shutdown. In all three age groups (young children, school-age children, and adolescents), there was a higher proportion of foreign body ingestions post-COVID-19 shutdown (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p = 0.028, respectively), driven primarily by the decrease in total ED encounters. In the youngest age group (younger than 5 years), there was also a significant increase in slope for foreign body ingestions post-COVID-19 (p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of foreign body ingestions increased after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily driven by an overall decrease in total ED volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T. Neal
- Reprint Address: Jeffrey T. Neal, MD, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
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Bozzola E, Barni S, Villani A. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pediatric Hospitalization in the COVID-19 Era. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192315455. [PMID: 36497528 PMCID: PMC9738890 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) globally affects the population, mainly young children, potentially causing hospitalization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacological measures interfered with the circulation of most respiratory viruses. Then, with the discontinuation of restrictive measures, a new scenario appeared. With this scoping review, we want to globally explore whether the RSV paediatric hospitalization rate was influenced by COVID-19. This scoping review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on PubMed using the Mesh terms "Respiratory Syncytial Viruses"[Mesh] AND "COVID-19"[Mesh] OR "SARS-CoV-2"[Mesh]. Among them, we identified studies pertaining to children and adolescents up to 18 years old hospitalized for RSV, including 18 records in the revision. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a drastic reduction in RSV hospitalization among the pediatric population in 2020-2021 season has been observed in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. After the relaxing of restrictive measures, unexpected outbreaks happened, leading to increased hospitalization and occupation of pediatric intensive care units.
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Brnić D, Lojkić I, Škoko I, Krešić N, Šimić I, Keros T, Ganjto M, Štefanac D, Viduka B, Karšaj D, Štiler D, Habrun B, Jemeršić L. SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Croatian wastewaters and the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in bivalve molluscan shellfish. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112638. [PMID: 34990611 PMCID: PMC8721915 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment has been confirmed numerous times, whilst research on the bioaccumulation in bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) has been rather scarce. The present study aimed to fulfil the knowledge gap on SARS-CoV-2 circulation in wastewaters and surface waters in this region and to extend the current knowledge on potential presence of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in BMS. The study included 13 archive wastewater and surface water samples from the start of epidemic and 17 influents and effluents from nine wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of different capacity and treatment stage, sampled during the second epidemic wave. From that period are the most of 77 collected BMS samples, represented by mussels, oysters and warty venus clams harvested along the Dalmatian coast. All samples were processed according to EN ISO 15216-1 2017 using Mengovirus as a whole process control. SARS-CoV-2 detection was performed by real-time and conventional RT-PCR assays targeting E, N and nsp14 protein genes complemented with nsp14 partial sequencing. Rotavirus A (RVA) real-time RT-PCR assay was implemented as an additional evaluation criterion of virus concentration techniques. The results revealed the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in nine influents and two secondary treatment effluents from eight WWTPs, while all samples from the start of epidemic (wastewaters, surface waters) were negative which was influenced by sampling strategy. All tertiary effluents and BMS were SARS-CoV-2 negative. The results of RVA amplification were beneficial in evaluating virus concentration techniques and provided insights into RVA dynamics within the environment and community. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirm SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Croatian wastewaters during the second epidemic wave while extending the knowledge on wastewater treatment potential in SARS-CoV-2 removal. Our findings represent a significant contribution to the current state of knowledge that considers BMS of a very low food safety risk regarding SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragan Brnić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ivana Lojkić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ines Škoko
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Veterinary Department Split, Poljička cesta 33, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Nina Krešić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Šimić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Keros
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marin Ganjto
- Zagreb Wastewater Ltd., Čulinečka cesta 287, 10040, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dario Štefanac
- Vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o., Gažanski trg 8, 47000, Karlovac, Croatia
| | - Branka Viduka
- Odvodnja d.o.o., Hrvatskog sabora 2D, 23000, Zadar, Croatia
| | - Dario Karšaj
- Vodovod d.o.o., Nikole Zrinskog 25, 35000, Slavonski brod, Croatia
| | - Darko Štiler
- Vinkovački vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o., Ulica Dragutina Žanića Karle 47a, 32100, Vinkovci, Croatia
| | - Boris Habrun
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lorena Jemeršić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Pediatric Emergencies and Hospital Admissions in the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Children's Hospital in Romania. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9040513. [PMID: 35455557 PMCID: PMC9028540 DOI: 10.3390/children9040513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the pediatric population, particularly on their access to health services. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the influence that the pandemic, and its related containment and mitigation public health measures, had on pediatric emergencies and hospitalizations in a major tertiary pediatric hospital in Bucharest, Romania, during the first six months of the pandemic, March−August 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. In these first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pediatric emergencies decreased 2.8-fold compared to the same period in 2019, but the proportion of major emergencies increased significantly (p < 0.001). The number of admissions also decreased 3.3-fold in 2020, compared to 2019, but the risk of admission for lower respiratory tract infections and respiratory failure increased 1.3- and 2.3-fold, respectively. In conclusion, the restrictions imposed by the pandemic containment and mitigation plan not only had a significant impact on reducing emergency department presentations, but also on pediatric admissions in Romania. These data highlight the importance of maintaining optimal access to child health services when confronted with a public health threat, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Active communication with parents, involving general practitioners, pediatricians, and authorities, is essential for managing children with acute signs of illness in the case of future restrictions or lockdown measures.
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