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The Importance of RSV Epidemiological Surveillance: A Multicenter Observational Study of RSV Infection during the

Giulia Pruccoli1, Emanuele Castagno2, Irene Raffaldi2

  • 1Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy.

Viruses
|February 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Following COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases surged in children under 3 years old in 2021. This RSV rebound involved older children but showed no increase in disease severity compared to pre-pandemic years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • COVID-19 pandemic restrictive measures led to a significant decrease in respiratory pathogens, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
  • A notable rebound in RSV cases has been observed following the easing of these measures.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and clinical features of this RSV resurgence is crucial for pediatric healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiology of RSV infections in children under 3 years old during and after the COVID-19 pandemic peak.
  • To compare RSV case numbers, age distribution, and seasonality between 2019, 2020, and 2021.
  • To evaluate the clinical characteristics and severity of RSV infections in the studied pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted across 15 Pediatric Emergency Departments.
  • Children under 3 years old diagnosed with RSV infection between September 1 and December 31, 2021, were included.
  • Data were compared with children admitted during the same periods in 2020 and 2019.

Main Results:

  • A total of 1015 children were enrolled: 100 in 2019, 3 in 2020, and 912 in 2021.
  • RSV admissions significantly increased in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2019, exceeding the typical seasonal peak.
  • The median age of affected children was higher in 2021, with a greater proportion in the 2-3 year age group; hospitalization rates decreased, but admission duration and severity remained similar.

Conclusions:

  • The post-pandemic period saw a substantial increase in pediatric RSV cases in 2021, affecting older children.
  • Despite the surge, the clinical severity of RSV infections did not differ significantly from pre-pandemic levels.
  • These findings highlight the dynamic nature of pediatric respiratory virus epidemiology in response to public health interventions.

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemiccoinfectionsepidemiological surveillanceepidemiologyrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)seasonal peak

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