Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Epidemiological Trends in Pediatric Cervical Abscess-Forming Infections.

ABSTRACT: Abscess-forming cervical bacterial infections are rare and serious infections. Methods: We retrospectively examined the trends in abscess-forming cervical bacterial infections in children who required inpatient treatment in three periods before (January 2016 to June 2020), during (July 2020 to December 2022) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2023 to June 2024). Results: The study included 96 patients with superficial cervical abscesses and 111 patients with deep cervical abscesses (34 with retropharyngeal abscesses, 51 with peritonsillar abscesses, and 26 with deep neck abscesses). Both decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic (0.94 ± 0.92 vs. 0.50 ± 0.72 vs. 1.67 ± 1.11/mont

SUBMITTER: Takahashi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11767812 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature