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Clinical Features of RS Virus Infection before, during, and after COVID-19 Pandemic

Natsu Ide1, Kyosuke Tabata1,2, Norihiro Tokuma1

  • 1Division of Pediatrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Toshima Hospital, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic altered respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infection severity in children. Post-pandemic, children experienced higher rates of oxygen use and mechanical ventilation, indicating increased disease severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic influenced infectious disease patterns globally.
  • Respiratory syncytial (RS) virus is a common childhood infection, typically mild.
  • Pandemic-related restrictions may have altered RS virus epidemiology and clinical presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical features of RS virus infection in children.
  • To compare the severity and management requirements of RS virus infections across pre-pandemic, during-pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

Main Methods:

  • An observational study was conducted at Tokyo Metropolitan Toshima Hospital.
  • Clinicodemographic data from 369 children under six with RS virus infection were analyzed.
  • Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic, during-pandemic, and post-pandemic groups for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • Children during and after the pandemic showed significantly higher odds of requiring oxygen support compared to the pre-pandemic group.
  • The post-pandemic group exhibited significantly increased odds of requiring mechanical ventilation.
  • These findings suggest a trend towards more severe RS virus infections in the post-pandemic era.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures appear to have modified the clinical course of RS virus infections in children.
  • Increased severity, indicated by higher rates of oxygen use and mechanical ventilation, was observed in the post-pandemic period.
  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these changes.

Keywords:
COVID-19RS virus infectionpandemic

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