Current trends in paediatric infections in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The onset of 2020 clearly demonstrated that infection agents pose a major threat to mankind. Current infectiology is shaped by resurrection of “old” seemingly forgotten infections, emergence of “new” infection agents, unusual combinations of known agents, evolving resistance of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs, transformation of human microbiome leading to distortions in herd immunity and, ultimately, emergence of healthcare-related infectious diseases, not letting alone threats of bioterror. Infection agents evolve together with mankind. Novel facets emerge in infectiology, alongside with trends in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases that become more diverse as the list of pathogens grows. Human and infection agent links extend beyond antagonistic relations towards symbiosis. Microorganisms adapt quickly in the new technogenic environment giving rise to novel pathogens and making it unlikely for the mankind to get free from infections any time soon.The total economic damage from infectious diseases increases by year, despite continuous improvement in therapy. Infectious mortality in children aged 0 to 14 years is the top fourth among other causes of death. The work assesses comparative dynamics of “common” childhood infections in the Russian Federation during 2018–2020. We analyse official statistics on paediatric infectious morbidity, comparative dynamics of main infectious diseases (acute respiratory diseases, intestinal infections of bacterial and viral nature, neuroinfections, anthropozoonotic infections, viral hepatitises), assess trends in morbidity of vaccine-preventable infections in children and adults in the Russian Federation, with greater detail towards selected regions, from January 2018 to April 2020.

Keywords

• children
• infections
• morbidity
• vaccination