June 2, 2023 – The variety of brain abscesses in children rose sharply last winter, as did the variety of respiratory infections. CDC said in its weekly morbidity and mortality report this week.
While the CDC stressed that brain abscesses in children are still rare, it said a study of hospital data “showed a higher than expected number of intracranial infections in children beginning in August 2021, with a major peak in winter 2022.” [to] 2023.”
The CDC said the infections are often a complication of respiratory infections and sinus infections.
The federal health agency began investigating trends in brain abscesses in children in May 2022 after doctors in Clark County, NV and California reported clusters of cases. An initial analysis of cases through May 2022 found that case numbers were within the normal range, but a further analysis of cases through March 2023 found a significant increase.
The researchers examined the Children's Hospital Association database, which contains medical records from 37 children's hospitals in 19 states and Washington, DC.
Between 2016 and 2019, before the pandemic, an average of 34 cases of brain abscesses were reported per month, with 61 being the highest number for a single month. The number of cases declined during the pandemic (May 2020 to May 2021) as people practiced social distancing, the CDC said.
After lockdowns were lifted, the number of brain abscess cases increased. Starting in August 2021, the number exceeded the pre-pandemic median of 34 and surpassed the peak of 61 cases in December 2022, when a peak of 102 cases of brain abscesses were reported. From January to March 2023, the numbers decreased but still remained above the pre-pandemic monthly peak, according to the CDC.
“This can be consistent with observing secondary bacterial infections several weeks or months after viral spread,” says Dr. Sunil Sood, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Northwell Health's Cohen Children's Medical Center. said CNN.
The CDC said everyone under 18 should stay awake up to now with really helpful vaccinations, including those against flu and COVID-19.