Navigating paediatric virology through the COVID‑19 era (Review)

Abstract

The present review article presents the key messages of the 8th Workshop on Paediatric Virology organised virtually by the Institute of Paediatric Virology based on the island of Euboea in Greece. The major topics covered during the workshop were the following: i) New advances in antiviral agents and vaccines against cytomegalovirus; ii) hantavirus nephropathy in children; iii) human rhinovirus infections in children requiring paediatric intensive care; iv) complications and management of human adenovirus infections; v) challenges of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome in children and adolescents; and vi) foetal magnetic resonance imaging in viral infections involving the central nervous system. The COVID-19 era requires a more intensive, strategic, global scientific effort in the clinic and in the laboratory, focusing on the diagnosis, management and prevention of viral infections in neonates and children.

Respiratory adenovirus infections in children: a focus on Africa

“…Consequently, HAdV has been less impacted by the implementation and easing of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Zambian study reported HAdV being identified at higher rates from nasopharyngeal samples throughout the 2020-2021 period of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to before the pandemic [ 21 ]. Interestingly, this heightened presence of adenovirus was observed a year into the pandemic rather than in its early stages [ 22 ], suggesting a nuanced temporal dynamic that may be related to the virus gradually occupying a specific ecological niche [ 23 , 24 ].…”