The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infectious morbidity in children in a metropolis

Abstract

In the work, based on a retrospective analysis of the medical documentation of a children's clinic for 2017—2022. the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in- fectious morbidity in children was assessed. The data obtained indicate that in the children's population of St. Petersburg, as well as throughout the world, along with low involvement in the epidemic process of a new coronavirus infection, the incidence of seasonal acute respiratory and intestinal infections, chicken pox, scarlet fever, and whooping cough has significantly decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a significant impact on the structure and seasonality of in- fectious diseases in children. The phased exit from the lockdown did not lead to the predicted explosive growth of seasonal infections — as restrictions were eased, the incidence of acute respiratory and intestinal infections over the past two years has smoothly returned to pre-pandemic levels.