Scientists begin to address the real impact social distancing during covid-19 lockdowns had on immunity in babies and adolescents
health
January 31, 2023
The number of children hospitalized with severe infections declined from 2020 to 2021 Jean Gaumey/Magnum Photos
A question on the minds of many parents and caregivers of infants born in the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic is whether lockdowns and social distancing have had long-term effects on the health of their babies. Fortunately, these concerns are largely fueled by misconceptions about how the immune system forms during the first few years of life.
It is clear that the pandemic’s public health measures have impacted children’s exposure to disease-causing bacteria and viruses. When strict social distancing rules were introduced, the ability to spread infection decreased dramatically.
An analysis of data across England found a 94% reduction in the number of children under 15 hospitalized with flu between March 2020 and June 2021. It wasn’t just the flu that was affected. The analysis found that 18 of the 19 infections studied, including mumps, measles, croup, tonsillitis and bronchiolitis, reduced hospitalizations in children.
This puts a locked down infant in a different position than the average infant. For example, about 90% of children in the UK are typically infected by the age of one, but an analysis of babies born during Ireland’s first lockdown found less than half of children aged 12 months to 12 months. found to have had the infection in their first year. .
less infections
Luckily, we don’t have to actually get sick when we are very young. Infections like influenza are likely to lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, and in young children, especially those with…
