Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of respiratory viruses in children with lower respiratory tract infections in China

Abstract

Background The multifaceted non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken during the COVID-19 pandemic not only decrease the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2, but have impact on the prevalence of other viruses. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of common respiratory viruses among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Respiratory specimens were obtained from children with LRTI at Children’s Hospital of Fudan University for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1 to 3, influenza virus A (FluA), influenza virus B (FluB), human metapneumovirus (MPV) and rhinovirus (RV). The data were analyzed and compared between the year of 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic). Results A total of 7107 patients were enrolled, including 4600 patients in 2019 and 2507 patients in 2020. Compared with 2019, we observed an unprecedented reduction of RSV, ADV, FluA, FluB, and MPV infections in 2020, despite of reopening of schools in June, 2020. However, the RV infection was significantly increased in 2020 and a sharp increase was observed especially after reopening of schools. Besides, the PIV infection showed resurgent characteristic after September of 2020. The mixed infections were significantly less frequent in 2020 compared with the year of 2019. Conclusions The NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic have great impact on the prevalence of common respiratory viruses in China. Meanwhile, we do need to be cautious of a possible resurgence of some respiratory viruses as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Different Circulation Pattern of Multiple Respiratory Viruses in Southern China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This finding is similar to an earlier study in 2009-2014 in Southern China where influenza, RSV and ADV were found to be the most common respiratory viruses (Zhang et al, 2014;Liao et al, 2015). Most of our samples were collected from outpatients and hence better reflected respiratory virus activity in the community, when compared to studies which focused on hospitalized patients and may be affected by revised admission criteria as part of the pandemic response (Fukuda et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2021). In early 2020 when the most stringent control measures against COVID-19 were implemented, influenza viruses among children and adults were suppressed to a historically low level in Guangzhou as well as in many parts of the world (Olsen et al, 2020;Zipfel et al, 2021).…”

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI

“…Moreover, the use of an epidemiologic integrated approach has to be highlighted whereas the widest use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the current COVID-19 pandemic has changed the epidemiologic scenario of influenza and other respiratory viruses [58,59], with a decline of influenza and hRSV detection followed by a resurgence of hRSV incidence in hospitalised children after the relaxation of public health measures [60,61]. Therefore, the importance of molecular epidemiology, in support of the surveillance systems in place against respiratory pathogens both in community and hospital settings, must be emphasised also in the light of a changing and more complex global public health scenario and of the increasing need to update vaccination strategies [62,63].…”

Epidemiological changes of common respiratory viruses in children during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“… 15 However, recent evidence suggests that some other respiratory viruses showed a propensity to reemerge. 16 Although some studies have reported the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence of respiratory viruses in children, 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 few studies have focused on the influence of the NPIs on the circulation of common respiratory viruses in children of different age groups. Therefore, our study was conducted to report, and discuss the change in the epidemiological characteristics of common respiratory viruses in children of different ages under the COVID‐19 pandemic and provide support for finding better protection strategies.…”