Using antiviral therapies in youngsters hospitalized for influenza fell sharply in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, in keeping with a examine revealed final week in Pediatrics.
Whereas 48% to 57% of hospitalized youngsters acquired antivirals for flu earlier than the pandemic (December 2016 to March 2020), a staff led by researchers from the College of Vanderbilt Medical Heart discovered that 38% of those children acquired the medicines in 2021 to 2022, together with 46% in 2022 to 2023.
Earlier than the pandemic, use of antivirals had grown steadily for a number of years. Analysis reveals that antivirals can cut back the variety of days youngsters expertise flu signs and probably cut back the chance of problems.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and different professional teams suggest immediate antiviral remedy in youngsters with suspected or confirmed influenza who’re hospitalized; have extreme sickness; or are at increased threat of influenza problems, even with no confirmed lab take a look at.
Within the examine, which included 1,560 youngsters hospitalized with influenza, children had been extra prone to acquired antivirals if they’d an underlying medical situation, had been vaccinated towards flu, had scientific influenza testing, had been admitted on to the intensive care unit, and if they’d signs for 2 or extra days earlier than searching for care.
Antiviral medicines included within the examine, which was funded by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), had been oseltamivir, peramivir, baloxavir, and zanamivir.
Flu vaccinations additionally dropped in the course of the pandemic
The proportion of hospitalized youngsters vaccinated towards seasonal flu fell from 47% earlier than the pandemic to 33% within the late pandemic interval of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.
Though the examine didn’t discover causes for the “regarding decline” in antivirals, researchers famous that misinformation and distrust of the medical system elevated in the course of the pandemic. Additionally they instructed that oldsters and well being care suppliers “might underestimate the severity of influenza in youngsters, perceiving it as a self-limiting sickness regardless of proof of extreme problems, together with hospitalizations and deaths, even in in any other case wholesome youngsters.”
