Increased influenza severity in children in the wake of SARS‐CoV‐2

Abstract

AbstractThe SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic and subsequent interruption of influenza circulation has lowered population immunity to influenza, especially among children with few prepandemic exposures. Using data from a prospective pediatric cohort study based in Managua, Nicaragua, we compared the incidence and severity of influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B/Victoria between 2022 and two prepandemic seasons. We found a higher incidence of A/H3N2 in older children in 2022 compared with pre‐2020 and a higher proportion of severe influenza in 2022, primarily among children aged 0–4, suggesting an influence of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on influenza incidence and severity in children.