Molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, RSV and FLU in children with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 in children can cause serious cases just like in adults. In our environment, the characterization of respiratory viruses that cause severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is not known since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Objective: to evaluate the epidemiological behavior of SARS CoV-2, RSV and FLU as the cause of SARI in patients admitted to the Manuel Ascencio Villarroel Children's Hospital in Cochabamba. Methods: 41 patients up to 5 years of age admitted from June 2021 to June 2022 were included. Polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2, RSV and FLU type A and B. Results: RSV was detected in 47.6% of patients, SARS-CoV-2 in 42.9%, and coinfection between SARS CoV-2 and RSV in 9.5%. There were no cases of FLU infection. Fever and cough were reported mainly in 76.2% and 61.9% respectively. 14.3% of patients were admitted to intensive care, two patients died, one with a viral coinfection SARS CoV-2/RSV and the other with simple viral infection by SARS CoV-2. Conclusions: after the easing of restrictions following the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, RSV and SARS CoV-2 were found to be the agents causing SARI with a similar frequency of circulation. Respiratory manifestations are more frequent, showing mostly stable states and favorable recovery in most cases. Constant epidemiological surveillance is necessary given the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. © 2022 The authors.