Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Children in the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Prospective Multicenter Study

Abstract

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Changes in influenza and other respiratory virus activity during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, 2020–2021

“…The COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., cessation of global travel, mask use, physical distancing, and staying home) reduced the transmission of some viral respiratory pathogens. 1 In the United States, influenza activity decreased in March 2020, was historically low through the summer of 2020, 2 and remained low during October 2020–May 2021 (<0.4% of respiratory specimens with positive test results for each week of the season). Circulation of other respiratory pathogens, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), common human coronaviruses (HCoVs) types OC43, NL63, 229E, and HKU1, and parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) types 1–4 also decreased in early 2020 and did not increase until spring 2021.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., cessation of global travel, mask use, physical distancing, and staying home) reduced the transmission of some viral respiratory pathogens. 1 In the United States, influenza activity decreased in March 2020, was historically low through the summer of 2020, 2 During October 3, 2020-May 22, 2021, influenza activity was lower than during any previous influenza season since at least 1997, the first season for which data are publicly available (Figure 1) (Figure 2). Among 1,095,080 clinical specimens tested, 1921 (0.2%) specimens were positive for an influenza virus: 721 (37.5%) for influenza A and 1200 (62.5%) for influenza B.…”

Changes in Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2020–2021

“…The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., cessation of global travel, mask use, physical distancing, and staying home) reduced transmission of some viral respiratory pathogens (1). In the United States, influenza activity decreased in March 2020, was historically low through the summer of 2020 (2), and remained low during October 2020-May 2021 (<0.4% of respiratory specimens with positive test results for each week of the season).…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with medical complexity

“…19 Measures to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 likely contributed to a decline in other respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. 20 More recently, delayed seasonal surges in RSV have been described in both hemispheres, potentially correlating with the relaxation of some measures. 21,22 The trend in reduced incidence of respiratory infections is particularly important to CMC, considering they experience greater rates of hospitalization and morbidities associated with such infections.…”