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The Scope of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in a Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the Change in Seasonal Pattern during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Alkharsah, Khaled R.
  • Alkharsah KR; Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
Medicina (Kaunas) ; 58(11)2022 Nov 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2110177
ABSTRACT
Background and

Objectives:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of morbidity and hospital admission due to respiratory tract infection among infants and young children. The current study aims to describe the prevalence and the seasonal pattern of RSV during the previous seven years. Materials and

Methods:

Clinical data and RSV antigen and PCR test results were collected from patients' medical records at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and February 2022.

Results:

The overall percentage of RSV detection was 26.3% (336/1279) among the tested individuals. RSV infection was more common among children below five years and elderly above 60 years of age. Two-thirds of the cases required hospitalization. The average hospital stay due to RSV infection was 6.5 days (range 0-56 days). The rate of hospitalization was higher among infants and younger children and decreased with age (p-value < 0.001). RSV infection was more prevalent between August and February and decreased appreciably between March and July. The peak level of infection was during December and January. No RSV infections were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic and the following winter. The cases increased again in August 2021, with an unusual out-of-season peak.

Conclusions:

RSV infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and hospitalization among infants and young children in Saudi Arabia. The seasonal pattern of infection has changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the physicians should be aware that infection may happen currently at different times throughout the year.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Child / Child, preschool / Humans / Infant Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Medicina58111623

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Child / Child, preschool / Humans / Infant Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Medicina58111623