LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF ACUTE ENT INFECTIONS: IMPACT OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SECONDARY CARE
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Keywords
Acute ENT infections, Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), Seasonal variation, Scarlet fever resurgence, COVID-19 pandemic impact
Abstract
Infections of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) were the most common causes for transferring patients from the emergency department to an ENT specialist. There were big swings in the number of these referrals based on the time of year, the year itself, outbreaks and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiology of seven types of acute ear, nose and throat infections treated in secondary care was studied over a span of 10 years . For each surge, the relevant factors that might lead to infections were identified and discussed. It also contained analyses reviewing how similar beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) strains from both hospitals and the community are. Seasonal patterns, numbers hospitalized and the effects of COVID-19 in different areas were all reviewed. In the past decade, doctors submitted 16,883 cases of the seven target ENT infections. Seasonal variation was found, along with a clear rise that started in 2018. The number of acute ENT infections was highest in spring. A community outbreak of GABHS was found in 2014. It took about 1.5 days for people to recover in the hospital. There were no important differences between the ethnicity or gender groups. Even though COVID-dynamic rules were relaxed, acute ENT infections did not increase to their previous levels. That year’s outbreak of scarlet fever was related to a surge in acute ear, nose and throat (ENT) infections in the following years. The drop in the number of hospital and community beta-hemolytic streptococcal cultures during COVID-19 means infections really fell, not just the number of cases found or reported.
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Dr C. Kiran Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of ENT, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Mrunalini Savadana
Arunai Medical College and Hospital, Velu Nagar, Mathur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India-606603
M Vishnu Priya
Sri Venkateswara College of Pharmacy, RVS Nagar, Chittoor-517127, Andhra Pradesh, India.
D Jothieswari
Sri Venkateswara College of Pharmacy, RVS Nagar, Chittoor-517127, Andhra Pradesh, India.