Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza infections in hospitalized children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Central China.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
; 17(2): e13103, 2023 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2244579
ABSTRACT
Background:
Globally, the epidemiology of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus was remarkably influenced by the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study explored the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with RSV or influenza infection before and during the pandemic after relaxation of NPIs in central China.Methods:
This hospital-based prospective case-series study screened pediatric inpatients (age ≤ 14 years) enrolled with acute respiratory infections (ARI) for RSV or influenza infection from 2018 to 2021. The changes in positivity rates of viral detection, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics were analyzed and compared.Results:
Median ages of all eligible ARI patients from 2018-2019 were younger than those from 2020-2021, so were ages of cases infected with RSV or influenza (RSV 4.2 months vs. 7.2 months; influenza 27.3 months vs. 37.0 months). Where the positivity rate for influenza was considerably decreased in 2020-2021 (1.4%, 27/1964) as compared with 2018-2019 (2.9%, 94/3275, P < 0.05), it was increased for RSV (11.4% [372/3275] vs. 13.3% [262/1964], P < 0.05) in the same period. The number of severe cases for both RSV and influenza infection were also decreased in 2020-2021 compared with 2018-2019.Conclusions:
The implemented NPIs have had varied impacts on common respiratory viruses. A more effective prevention strategy for RSV infections in childhood is needed.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Respiratory Tract Infections
/
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
/
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
/
Influenza, Human
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
/
Infant
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
Journal subject:
Virology
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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