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Children
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Pediatric Infectious Disease Epidemiology
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Pediatric Infectious Disease Epidemiology

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1078

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Noriko Kitamura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
Interests: pediatrics; infectious disease epidemiology
Dr. Daisuke Yoneoka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-0052, Japan
Interests: statistics; machine learning; theoretical epidemiology; infectious diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered seasonal patterns and incidence rates of various pediatric infectious diseases. Notably, vaccine-preventable diseases like measles have reemerged in many regions.

This Special Issue, “Pediatric Infectious Disease Epidemiology”, aims to explore the evolving trends, epidemiological characteristics, and impact of childhood infections on public health. We invite original research articles and reviews that address infectious diseases in children and adolescents, with topics including but not limited to the following:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases and their epidemiology;
  • Disease surveillance and outbreak patterns;
  • Epidemiological methodologies;
  • Public health interventions for infectious disease and control strategies.

Your contributions will enhance our understanding of infectious disease epidemiology and dynamics in children and adolescents across diverse settings. We encourage researchers to submit their work to advance knowledge in this crucial area of public health.

Dr. Noriko Kitamura
Dr. Daisuke Yoneoka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pediatrics
  • child
  • adolescents
  • infectious diseases
  • surveillance
  • epidemiology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 615 KB  
Article
Temporal Shifts in Pathogen Profiles Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Romanian Pediatric Tertiary Hospital
by Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu, Iulia Cristina Bagiu, Monica Susan, Virgiliu Bogdan Sorop, Octavia Harich, Andrada Oprisoni, Radu Galis and Florin George Horhat
Children 2025, 12(9), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091258 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted pediatric healthcare systems globally, altering infection dynamics, hospital admissions, and antimicrobial practices. This study aimed to evaluate temporal shifts in patient demographics, clinical aspects, and microbial pathogen profiles in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Western Romania, spanning [...] Read more.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted pediatric healthcare systems globally, altering infection dynamics, hospital admissions, and antimicrobial practices. This study aimed to evaluate temporal shifts in patient demographics, clinical aspects, and microbial pathogen profiles in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Western Romania, spanning pre-pandemic (2019), pandemic (2021), and post-pandemic (2023) periods. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the “Louis Țurcanu” Emergency Children’s Hospital, Timișoara. Pediatric patients (<18 years) with laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections were included. Data on demographics, hospital wards, sample types, and pathogen distribution were analyzed using Χ2 tests, incidence rate ratios (IRR), and non-parametric statistical methods. Results: A total of 3530 patients and 6885 samples were analyzed. Pediatric admissions declined by nearly 50% during the pandemic. The Outpatient and Emergency department observed a decrease in cases, while the ICU and surgical ward cases increased proportionally. Nasal and pharyngeal samples declined during the pandemic, while catheter, blood, and conjunctival samples rose. The study identified a significant shift in pathogen prevalence, with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as the most frequent isolates. ICU patients showed increased rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Group A Streptococcus resurged post-pandemic after a decline in 2021. Conclusions: The pandemic significantly impacted pediatric infection profiles, hospital service utilization, and sample collection patterns. Strengthening infection surveillance, ensuring consistent reporting standards, and adapting pediatric care to future crises are critical for improving child health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Infectious Disease Epidemiology)
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13 pages, 3525 KB  
Article
Epidemiologic Investigation of a Varicella Outbreak in an Elementary School in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea
by Gipyo Sung, Jieun Jang and Kwan Lee
Children 2025, 12(7), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12070949 - 18 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: On 6 June 2023, two varicella cases were reported at a highly vaccinated elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. We investigated the outbreak to describe its transmission dynamics; quantify attack rates in school, household, and private-academy settings; and assess [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: On 6 June 2023, two varicella cases were reported at a highly vaccinated elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. We investigated the outbreak to describe its transmission dynamics; quantify attack rates in school, household, and private-academy settings; and assess the impact of coordinated control measures. Methods: A case-series study included 89 teachers and students who had contact with suspected patients. Using case definitions, laboratory tests, questionnaires, and environmental assessments, we evaluated exposures and factors facilitating spread. Results: Varicella developed in 23 of 89 contacts (25.8%); laboratory confirmation was obtained in 2 (8.7% of cases). The mean incubation period was 13 days. Epidemic-curve and network analyses indicated that the outbreak began with a single index case and extended through household contacts and private educational facilities, ultimately involving multiple schools. Conclusions: Breakthrough transmission can occur even when single-dose coverage exceeds 95%, particularly as vaccine-induced immunity may wane over time. Poorly regulated extracurricular facilities, such as private academies, act as bridging hubs that amplify spread across grades and even between schools. For timely detection and control, these venues should be incorporated into routine varicella surveillance, and rapid, coordinated infection-control measures are required across all educational settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Infectious Disease Epidemiology)
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