How Big Was the Impact of COVID-19 on Other Pediatric Infectious Diseases?

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Portugal has imposed two nationwide lockdowns in the last year, with strict non-medical interventions, causing a tremendous impact on the use of emergency services.

Methods: The most common infection-related admissions were compared in a pediatric emergency service during the first year of the pandemic with the previous two years.

Results: We observed 60% fewer infectious diseases, mainly due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, more pronounced during the lockdown periods.

Discussion: This important reduction in pediatric infection-related admissions during the pandemic points out the likely role of non-pharmacological interventions in preventing infectious diseases that contributes to the better and more rational use of pediatric emergency services.