Epidemiology of Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections During the COVID-19 Era: A Retrospective Multicentric Study of Hospitalized Children in Lebanon Between October 2018 and March 2021.

Background The identification of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 and its subsequent designation as the causative agent of COVID-19 marked the beginning of an unprecedented global health crisis. As the virus spread rapidly across continents, its impact on various demographic groups, including children, became a subject of intense research. While children were initially thought to be less susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness compared to adults, concerns emerged regarding their vulnerability to other respiratory infections amidst the pandemic. Understanding the epidemiological trends of pediatric respiratory tract infections (RTIs) during the COVID-19 era is crucial for informing public health strategies and clinical management protocols. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and characteristics of pediatric RTIs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon. Methodology A retrospective, observational study was conducted by reviewing medical records of children admitted to three tertiary care hospitals in Lebanon: Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, Al Sahel General University Hospital, and Rafik Al-Hariri University Hospital. Data were collected from October 2018 to March 2021, encompassing both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras. A standardized data collection sheet was utilized to gather information on demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, duration of hospitalization, and antibiotic usage. Results Our analysis revealed significant shifts in the epidemiology of pediatric RTIs between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras. There was a marked decline in the proportion of school-age children hospitalized with RTIs during the pandemic period. However, the overall percentage of Lebanese hospitalized children across different age groups increased significantly during the COVID-19 era. Furthermore, the prevalence of specific RTIs, such as pharyngitis, increased from 1.1% in the pre-COVID-19 to 5.5% during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.016), and the prevalence of bronchiolitis increased from 26.7% to 50.9% (p < 0.001) during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods, respectively. This notable rise during the pandemic suggested potential changes in circulating pathogens or diagnostic practices. Importantly, the median length of hospital stays for pediatric RTIs decreased during the COVID-19 era compared to the pre-pandemic period, indicating possible improvements in clinical management or healthcare resource utilization. Analysis of antibiotic usage revealed ceftriaxone as the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in both periods, highlighting its continued relevance in the management of pediatric RTIs. Conclusions This study highlights significant epidemiological shifts in pediatric RTIs during the COVID-19 era in Lebanon. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and research to adapt public health interventions and clinical practices to evolving infectious disease dynamics. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the underlying factors driving these changes and optimize strategies for the prevention and management of pediatric RTIs in the context of the ongoing pandemic.