Comparative characteristics of the etiological spectrum of acute viral respiratory infections in pediatric patients in Ukraine during 2018–2020

ABSTRACT

BackgroundAcute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) continue to be the main reason for seeking pediatric care in Ukraine. Comparative characteristics of etiological spectrum of ARVI in Ukrainehas not been sufficiently studied.Aim of Study to investigate the etiology of ARVIand compare it between epidemiological seasons 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.MethodsThe study was conducted inthe Eurolab clinic (Kyiv, Ukraine) during the period 2018-2020. Nasopharyngeal swabs, collected from ARVI children aged 2 months to 16 years old, were analyzed by multiplex real time polymerase chain reactionfor 7 viruses – Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), Parainfluenza virus (PIV), Adenovirus (AdV), human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), Rhinovirus (RV), human Bocavirus (hBoV) and Coronavirus (CoV). Rapid influenza diagnostic testing was used.Results147 samples were collected during the period from October 2018 until February 2019;125 (85,0%) were positive hMPV – 33 (26,3%), IVA – 28 (22,4%), RV – 21 (16,8%), RSV – 10 (8,0%), hBoV – 7 (5,6%), AdV – 5 (4,0%), PIV – 4 (3,4%). Diagnosis of pneumonia was established in 18% of children infected by hMPV and 21% of children with IVA infection. Other clinical manifestations of hMPV infection were tracheobronchitis, obstructive bronchitis, bronchiolitis, rhinopharyngitis, laryngitis.12 of the children with RV infection had symptoms of rhinopharyngitis, wheezing, bronchitis and laryngitis. 203 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected during epidemic season 2019-2020, 180 (88,7%) of them were positive RV – 56 (31,7%), AdV – 39 (22,2%), CoVNL-63, 229E – 28 (12,7%), hBoV – 19 (10,6%), IVA -15 (8,3%), PIV – 12 (6,6%). Confirmed diagnosis of pneumonia had 6 (10,6%) children with RV. 10 (17,8%) children with AdV infection had pneumonia as a clinical manifestation. CoVNL-63, 229E caused rhinopharyngitis, croup, wheezing, tracheobronchitis. Generally, 103 samples were collected during the period from March 2019 until September 2019. 98 of them were positive RSV -37 (37,8%), RV -29 (29,6%),CoV – 12 (12,2%), AdV – 10 (10,2%), PIV – 9 (9,2%).ConclusionsThere has been a change in the etiological spectrum of ARVI during the last two years. During epidemic season 2018-2019 in Ukraine, the most prevalent viruses were hMPV -33 (26,3%), IVA -28 (22,4%), RV – 21 (16,8%). During epidemic season 2019-2020 the most commonlydetected pathogens were RV- 56 (31,7%), AdV 39 (22,2%), CoVNL -63, 229E28 (12,7%).Epidemiological studies should be continued in order to forecast the probable clinical course of disease, and for optimization therapy.