Immune debt and its impact in children during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 epidemic / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) epidemic have been proven to be effective in blocking the spread of the epidemic.While reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, NPIs also reduce children exposure to other pathogens, leading to a decline in the incidence of many viral and bacterial infections.The reduction in contact with viruses and bacteria and the delay or interruption of routine immunization during SARS-CoV-2 epidemic have resulted in insufficient immune stimulation of pathogens on the population, leading to an increase in susceptible populations and a decline in herd immunity, forming the immune debt during SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.After reducing or lifting NPIs, the incidence of some viral or bacterial infectious diseases was significantly higher than pre-epidemic.In this review, the definition, source, impact and strategies of immune debt during epidemic period were expounded, inorder to improve clinicians′ attention and understanding of immune debt and optimize the prevention of children′s infectious diseases.