Respiratory infections in children and adolescents in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children were mainly characterised by three pathogens: respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), influenza viruses and rhinoviruses. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken in Germany (especially until the end of 2021) on the incidence of ARI in children and adolescents aged 0 to 14 years and the pathogens causing them has not yet been comprehensively analysed. Methods: The evaluation is based on data from population-based, virological and hospital-based surveillance instruments up to the end of 2022. Results: After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, ARI rates remained almost consistently below prepandemic levels until autumn 2021, with only rhinoviruses continuously continuing to cause ARI. Only when the Omicron variant became predominant in 2022, there were measurable COVID-19 rates at population level in children, although COVID-19 hospitalisation rates remained comparatively low. RSV and influenza waves were initially absent and then occurred 'out of season', but were more severe than usual. Conclusions: While the measures taken were effective in inhibiting the number of respiratory infections for almost 1.5 years, moderately frequent but rather mild COVID-19 cases occurred when measures were lifted. When Omicron emerged in 2022 COVID-19 became moderately frequent but led predominantly to mild illnesses. For RSV and influenza, the measures resulted in changes in their annual timing and intensity.