A University of Bristol report reveals that 15% of child deaths in England over the last three years are linked to infections, based on data from 1,507 cases between April 2019 and March 2022.
Children under one face a higher risk, and the likelihood of infection-related death varies by ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
In the most deprived neighbourhoods, the chance of infection-related death is twice that of the least deprived ones. Children with underlying health conditions and learning disabilities are over-represented, constituting 90% of infection-related deaths.
The report also notes disruptions in seasonal patterns of infection-related deaths, potentially influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a rise in winter 2021/22 that did not return to typical levels in the summer of 2022/23, suggesting a continued increase in infection-related deaths throughout the year.