The disinfecting and hand-washing that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic have also served as powerful tools against a host of childhood ailments such as chickenpox, stomach viruses and strep throat, recent data suggest.
Doctors say that as countries with widespread COVID-19 vaccination, including the U.S., get back to normal, people would be well-advised to keep up some of the practices they have adopted—even if pandemic weariness makes them less than eager to take that advice.
“We’ve seen a dramatic decline in the numbers,” said Rana El Feghaly, a pediatrician and director of…
