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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 and Influenza Infections in Children: A
Hao-Yuan Lee1,2,3,4,5, Chien-Chin Chen2, Shu-Hua Ko2
1Department of Nursing, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 35664, Taiwan.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted pediatric viral infections, with increased pneumonia rates observed in both COVID-19 and influenza cases in 2024. This highlights the need for vigilance in diagnosing and treating these pediatric respiratory illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Virology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health policies significantly altered viral infection patterns in children.
- Understanding the changing epidemiology of pediatric respiratory viruses is crucial for effective public health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 and influenza cases during different Omicron waves and pre-pandemic periods.
- To assess changes in the prevalence of key symptoms and complications like pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric COVID-19 and influenza cases at Wei Gong Memorial Hospital (January 2015 - March 2024).
- Comparison of clinical data, including fever and leukocytosis, across different viral strains (Influenza A/B, COVID-19 Omicron variants).
- Statistical analysis to determine significant differences in clinical presentations and outcomes.
Main Results:
- A total of 7455 cases were analyzed: 2729 Influenza A, 974 Influenza B, and 3752 COVID-19.
- In 2024, high fever (>40 °C) was more common in Influenza A, while leukocytosis (>12,000/µL) was more frequent in COVID-19 cases.
- Pneumonia rates increased significantly in 2024 for both COVID-19 and influenza cases compared to previous periods.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric COVID-19 and influenza exhibit distinct clinical features, necessitating careful differential diagnosis.
- The rise in pneumonia rates for both viral infections in 2024 underscores the importance of prompt medical attention and intervention in pediatric patients.
- Continued surveillance and research are vital to manage the evolving landscape of pediatric viral respiratory infections.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic and Taiwan's strict prevention policies from May 2020 to April 2023 significantly altered the epidemiology of viral infections. This study analyzed pediatric COVID-19 and influenza cases at Wei Gong Memorial Hospital from January 2015 to March 2024. Clinical features were compared among children hospitalized during the Omicron BA.2.3.7 (April-July 2022), Omicron BA.5 (August-December 2022), and Omicron JN.1 (2024) waves and those with influenza in 2024 and 2015-2016. Between 2015 and 2024, there were 2729 influenza A (36.6%), 974 influenza B (13.1%), and 3752 COVID-19 (50.3%) cases, with 84.7% of COVID-19 cases occurring in May-December 2022. In 2024, high fever (>40 °C) was more common in influenza A cases (32.9%) than in COVID-19 or influenza B (p < 0.004). Leukocytosis (>12,000/µL) was more frequent in COVID-19 cases (33.3%) than in influenza A (12.2%) or B (0%) (p < 0.001). Pneumonia was more prevalent in COVID-19 cases in 2024 (27.3%) than in 2022 (p ≤ 0.030), and pneumonia rates for influenza A (14.8%) and B (16.7%) in 2024 exceeded those in 2015-2016 (p ≤ 0.030). Increased pneumonia rates in 2024 emphasize the importance of vigilance and timely intervention for pediatric COVID-19 and influenza cases.
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