Incidence and severity of community acquired pneumonias in children before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: During the first year of the covid-19 pandemic the adoption of non-pharmacological interventions (NPI), resulted in a significant fall in the incidence of respiratory tract infections. However, after the relaxation of these restrictions some of these infections have returned. This study evaluates the incidence and severity of community acquired pneumonias (CAPs) in children before and after the onset of pandemic.

Methods: Characteristics of CAPs admitted to Archbishop Makarios Hospital, between March 2016 and February 2023 were reviewed. Comparison was made between the first, second and third pandemic year, and the four pre-pandemic years.

Results: The mean annual number of admissions in the pre-pandemic years was 32 and dropped to 11 during the first pandemic year. However, admissions increased again in the second year of the pandemic to 41 (increase by 28%), and this increase was sustained into the third year. The proportion of complicated pneumonias, approximately doubled, from 20% in the pre-pandemic years to 35% and 33% in the second and third pandemic year, respectively.

Conclusions: During the first year the use of NPIs appeared to have decreased the incidence of pneumonias. However, during the second and third pandemic years, an increase in the numbers and severity of pneumonias was noted.