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Letter Letter Epublish 2 citations

PubMed: 39244583 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01754-2

A silent strain: the unseen burden of acute respiratory infections in children.

Ital J Pediatr 50(1):167

Authors: Riccardo Boracchini, Benedetta Canova, Pietro Ferrara, Luigi Cantarutti, Carlo Giaquinto, Costanza Di Chiara, Anna Cantarutti

Affiliations

  • Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Division of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Laboratory of Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy.
  • Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Division of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Laboratory of Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy.
  • Center for Public Health Research, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, Monza, 20900, Italy.
  • Società Servizi Telematici (SoSeTe), Pedianet Project, Via Giacomo Medici 9/A, Padua, 35138, Italy.
  • Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 3, Padua, 35128, Italy.

Abstract

The significant impact of acute respiratory tract infections on healthcare systems is well-documented, given their contribution to emergency department admissions, hospitalizations, and increased use of antibiotics and other medications. However, further research is needed to understand the burden of acute respiratory tract infections in pediatric community care to develop effective public health interventions and improve child health outcomes. Real-world data were retrieved from Pedianet, an Italian network of over 200 family pediatricians. Acute respiratory tract infection visits were identified and analysed using an infection-duration algorithm to extract individual cases. The number of follow-up visits per 100 cases was calculated to assess the burden on the Italian National Health Service. Comparisons were made overall and stratified by type of acute respiratory tract infections and epidemiological season. A total of 1,402,953 acute respiratory infections-related visits were recorded, with an overall rate of 12 visits per 100 cases. Upper respiratory tract infections had an average of 9 visits per 100 cases. Lower respiratory tract infections exhibited a higher burden, with 29 visits per 100 cases. Pneumonia showed a declining trend in the pre-pandemic era (62 to 48 visits) but rebounded in the post-COVID-19 years (32 to 42 visits). This study underscores the importance of monitoring and managing acute respiratory infections, especially lower respiratory tract infections, in pediatric care.

MeSH

Respiratory Tract Infections, Pediatrics, Infections, Child

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