Incidence of pediatric tonsillitis, otitis and upper respiratory infectious entities in the pre and post COVID-19 quarantine eras

Daou, Christophe Abi Zeid; Yammine, Yara; Daou, Anne-Marie; Feghali, Patrick A R; Najjar, Wassim; Barazi, Randa

doi:10.1080/00016489.2023.2200851

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Once again, a certain evidence about the role of the quality of oropharyngeal colonization in enhancing the COVID-19 virulence has been found in adults [ 39 ] while the role of the respiratory tract microbiota composition in children remains speculative [ 40 , 41 ]. Controversial remains also the role of COVID-19 in influencing the occurrence of sinusitis and otitis because, on the one hand, COVID infection can favor bacterial superinfection and immune dysregulation (thus favoring sinusitis/otitis) [ 42 ] while, on the other hand, lockdown, masking, and vaccination could have contributed to their reduction [ 43 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children: an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Massimi,

Cinalli,

Frassanito

et al. 2024

Childs Nerv Syst

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Background COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have changed the epidemiology of some pediatric neurosurgical disease: among them are the intracranial complications of sinusitis and otitis (ICSO). According to some studies on a limited number of cases, both streptococci-related sinusitis and ICSO would have increased immediately after the pandemic, although the reason is not clear yet (seasonal changes versus pandemic-related effects). The goal of the present survey of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN) was to collect a large number of cases from different European countries encompassing the pre-COVID (2017–2019), COVID (2020–2021), and post-COVID period (2022–June 2023) looking for possible epidemiological and/or clinical changes. Material and methods An English language questionnaire was sent to ESPN members about year of the event, patient’s age and gender, presence of immune-deficit or other favoring risk factors, COVID infection, signs and symptoms at onset, site of primary infection, type of intracranial complication, identified germ, type and number of surgical operations, type and duration of medical treatment, clinical and radiological outcome, duration of the follow-up. Results Two hundred fifty-four cases were collected by 30 centers coming from 14 different European countries. There was a statistically significant difference between the post-COVID period (129 children, 86 cases/year, 50.7% of the whole series) and the COVID (40 children, 20 cases/year, 15.7%) or the pre-COVID period (85 children, 28.3 cases/year, 33.5%). Other significant differences concerned the presence of predisposing factors/concurrent diseases (higher in the pre-COVID period) and previous COVID infection (higher in the post-COVID period). No relevant differences occurred as far as demographic, microbiological, clinical, radiological, outcome, morbidity, and mortality data were concerned. Paranasal sinuses and middle ear/mastoid were the most involved primary site of infection (71% and 27%, respectively), while extradural or subdural empyema and brain abscess were the most common ICSO (73% and 17%, respectively). Surgery was required in 95% of cases (neurosurgical and ENT procedure in 71% and 62% of cases, respectively) while antibiotics in 99% of cases. After a 12.4-month follow-up, a full clinical and radiological recovery was obtained in 85% and 84% of cases, respectively. The mortality rate was 2.7%. Conclusions These results suggest that the occurrence of ICSO was significantly increased after the pandemic. Such an increase seems to be related to the indirect effects of the pandemic (e.g., immunity debt) rather than to a direct effect of COVID infection or to seasonal fluctuations. ICSO remain challenging diseases but the pandemic did not affect the management strategies nor their prognosis. The epidemiological change of sinusitis/otitis and ICSO should alert about the appropriate follow-up of children with sinusitis/otitis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children: an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Massimi,

Cinalli,

Frassanito

et al. 2024

Childs Nerv Syst

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“…Similar results were reported by Perniciaro et al, who found an increase of invasive pneumococcal disease in spring and summer of 2021 following a sharp decline in 2020 [ 23 ]. Another study performed in China reported a significantly increased number of cases of sinusitis in children after the pandemic and a significantly decreased number of cases of sinusitis during the pandemic, each compared to pre-pandemic years [ 24 ]. A Canadian study showed a decrease of pneumococcal infections during the pandemic and a post-pandemic increase [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase in complicated upper respiratory tract infection in children during the 2022/2023 winter season—a post coronavirus disease 2019 effect?

Metz,

Schmid,

Veldhoen

2023

Pediatr Radiol

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Background Upper respiratory tract infections usually peak during winter months. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether imaging of complicated upper airway infection in children increased during the winter season of 2022/2023. Materials and methods In a retrospective study setting, pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans for evaluation of upper respiratory tract infection performed between October 2022 and April 2023 were analyzed regarding presence of the following complications: mastoiditis, abscess, phlegmon, meningitis, reactive vasculitis, and sinus vein thrombosis. Pathogen detection, surgery, and infection parameters were obtained. Data were compared with MRI and CT scans performed in the same months of the preceding five years, distinguishing between pandemic and pre-pandemic years. Results During the 2022/2023 winter season, the number of MRI and CT scans in children with upper airway infections, the complication rate, the rate of detected streptococcal infections, and the rate of surgery increased significantly compared to expectations based on the five prior winter seasons (all P<0.05). During the first complete pandemic winter season in Europe (2020/2021), the number of MRI and CT scans in children with upper airway infection, the complication rate, and the rates of streptococcal detection and surgery decreased significantly compared to expectations based on the pre-pandemic, the second pandemic, and the post-pandemic winter seasons (all P<0.05). Conclusion After a decline during the first pandemic winter season, there was a marked rebound in complicated upper airway infection in children, with a significant increase in cases during the 2022/2023 winter season compared to the pre-pandemic and pandemic years. Graphical Abstract

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Impact of COVID-19 on nationwide pediatric complicated sinusitis trends throughout 2018–2022

Rosamilia,

Lee,

Roy

et al. 2024

American Journal of Otolaryngology

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Incidence of pediatric tonsillitis, otitis and upper respiratory infectious entities in the pre and post COVID-19 quarantine eras

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children: an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children: an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Increase in complicated upper respiratory tract infection in children during the 2022/2023 winter season—a post coronavirus disease 2019 effect?

Impact of COVID-19 on nationwide pediatric complicated sinusitis trends throughout 2018–2022

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