key: cord-0857123-azwvyab9
authors: Guedj, Romain; Lorrot, Mathie; Lecarpentier, Thibault; Leger, Pierre‐Louis; Corvol, Harriet; Carbajal, Ricardo
title: Infant bronchiolitis dramatically reduced during the second French COVID‐19 outbreak
date: 2021-02-07
journal: Acta Paediatr
DOI: 10.1111/apa.15780
sha: 1be66fe58556b72b0fd410893a181fa924303045
doc_id: 857123
cord_uid: azwvyab9

Acute bronchiolitis is one of the most common health burdens in infants worldwide and leads to frequent hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality (1). Children have been relatively spared by the COVID-19 pandemic, but reports of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (2) and probable long-term COVID (3) effects in children have started to emerge. One major concern was whether the overlap of the pandemic and seasonal bronchiolitis would put substantial pressure on healthcare systems. Bronchiolitis has a predictable seasonal pattern, primarily in autumn and winter, and in France this is between October and February. The second COVID-19 wave in France led to a two-week night curfew from 17 October 2020, followed by a full lockdown on 30 October. However, day care centres and primary and secondary schools remained open.

No external funding.

Acute bronchiolitis is one of the most common health burdens in infants worldwide and leads to frequent hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. 1 Children have been relatively spared by the COVID-19

pandemic, but reports of multisystem inflammatory syndrome 2 and probable long-term COVID 3 effects in children have started to emerge. One major concern was whether the overlap of the pandemic and seasonal bronchiolitis would put substantial pressure on healthcare systems. Bronchiolitis has a predictable seasonal pattern, primarily in autumn and winter, and in France, this is between October and February. The second COVID-19 wave in France led to a 2-week night curfew from 17 October 2020, followed by a full lockdown on 30 October. However, day care centres and primary and secondary schools remained open.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on bronchiolitis of the second COVID-19 pandemic wave in France and the public measures introduced to halt infections, namely social distancing, wearing masks, hand hygiene, curfews and lockdowns.

It was conducted at one of the largest tertiary university pae- We believe that the remarkable reduction in bronchiolitis observed, which extended beyond its expected peak in this country in the Northern Hemisphere, provides an important public health message. It can also help health systems to understand future bronchiolitis epidemics better.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. 

American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on D, Management of B. Diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children rose and fell with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France

Case report and systematic review suggest that children may experience similar long-term effects to adults after clinical COVID-19

Reduced PICU respiratory admissions during COVID-19

Coincidence of public transport strike with bronchiolitis epidemic

Infant bronchiolitis dramatically reduced during the second French COVID-19 outbreak