Google Trends data show a significant effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public search interest in childhood diseases.
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Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) has noticed three worldwide peaks of interest in Google Trends data.
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PIMS interest in Google Trends stayed on a relatively low level in comparison to Kawasaki disease during COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
Objectives
The objective was to analyze in silico public search interest during the COVID-19 pandemic for some classic infectious childhood diseases, e.g., measles, mumps, chickenpox, scarlet fever, and inflammatory diseases like Kawasaki disease and the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS).
Study design
In this study, a comparison of five childhood diseases in public search trends with the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome was performed.
Methods
Google Trends data for the period of five years for six childhood diseases were used. We used topics coverings all languages worldwide and all connected search queries.
Results
Public search interest decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic for some classic infectious childhood diseases. Search interest for the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, despite strong indication of a connection with COVID-19, remained relatively low compared to Kawasaki disease.
Practice implications
Better understanding of Google Trends can map public awareness of childhood diseases in terms of time course and search intensity.
Conclusions
Public interest during the pandemic was generated for diseases with suspected connection to COVID-19, presumably due to media triggers.