The Disappearance of Respiratory Viruses in Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Anna Chiara Vittucci,Elena Bozzola,Fabio Midulla,Claudia Ciarlitto,Luana Coltella,Carlo Federico Perno,Alberto Villani,Paolo Palma,Livia Antilici,Livia Piccioni

doi:10.3390/ijerph18189550

Abstract

Background: Social distancing measures are used to reduce the spreading of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of local restrictions on the transmission of respiratory virus infections. Methods: we retrospectively analyzed the nasopharyngeal samples of all patients (0–18 years old) admitted with respiratory symptoms in a large Italian tertiary hospital during the last three seasons from 2018 to 2021. Results: A strong reduction in all viral respiratory infections was observed in the last season (2020–2021) compared to the two previous seasons (−79.69% and −80.66%, respectively). In particular, we found that during the epidemic period 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, the total number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases was, respectively 726 and 689, while in the last season a total of five cases was detected. In the first months of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, the total flu infections were 240 and 354, respectively, while in the last season we did not detect any influenza virus. As other viruses, the presence of Rhinovirus declined, but to a lesser extent: a total of 488 cases were assessed compared to the 1030 and 1165 cases of the two previous respective epidemic seasons. Conclusions: Public health interventions and distancing (including continuous use of face masks) settled to counter the pandemic spread of COVID-19 had a macroscopic impact on all respiratory virus transmission and related diseases, with a partial exception of Rhinovirus. The absence of viruses’ circulation could result in a lack of immunity and increased susceptibility to serious infections in the next seasons.

Highlights

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years [1]
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common viral pathogens identified in children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs), but other frequent viruses are Rhinoviruses (HRV), Influenza viruses, Enteroviruses (EV), Adenoviruses (ADV), Parainfluenza viruses (PIV), Coronaviruses (CoV), Human Metapneumovirus (MPV), and Bocavirus (BoV)
The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of respiratory virus infections in the last year to the previous two COVID-free seasons

Summary

Introduction

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years [1]. They occur mainly in children and infants, who can experience up to five to six episodes in any given year [1]. The presence of Rhinovirus declined, but to a lesser extent: a total of 488 cases were assessed compared to the 1030 and 1165 cases of the two previous respective epidemic seasons. Conclusions: Public health interventions and distancing (including continuous use of face masks) settled to counter the pandemic spread of COVID-19 had a macroscopic impact on all respiratory virus transmission and related diseases, with a partial exception of Rhinovirus

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion