Respiratory Viral Infections In Children Research Articles

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on epidemiological features of viral respiratory tract infections in children: a single-centre study.

The epidemiology of respiratory infections may vary depending on factors such as climate changes, geographical features, and urbanization. Pandemics also change the epidemiological characteristics of not only the relevant infectious agent itself but also other infectious agents. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of viral respiratory infections in children. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children aged ≤18years with laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infections other than COVID-19 from January 2018 to March 2023. Data on demographic characteristics, month and year of admission, and microbiological results were collected. During the study period, 1,829 respiratory samples were sent for polymerase chain reaction testing. Rhinovirus was identified in 24% of the patients, mixed infections in 21%, influenza virus in 20%, and respiratory syncytial virus in 12.5%. A 38.6% decrease in viral respiratory infections was observed in 2020, followed by a 188% increase in 2021. The respiratory syncytial virus was significantly more common in the post-pandemic period (13.8%) compared to the pre-pandemic period (8.1%), but no seasonal shift in respiratory syncytial virus infection was observed. There was also a yearly increase in influenza infections in the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of parainfluenza virus infections increased during the summer months, and this finding provides a new contribution to the existing literature.

Common viral respiratory infections in children with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter study from Türkiye.

Microbiologic confirmation of respiratory tract infections gained importance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study retrospectively evaluated seasonal distribution, clinical presentation, and complications of respiratory viral infections (RVIs) other than COVID-19 in children with cancer during and after the pandemic lockdown. Two hundred and sixty-five inpatient and outpatient RVI episodes in 219 pediatric cancer patients confirmed by multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) panels from 13 centers were enrolled. Eighty-six (32.5%) of the total 265 episodes occurred in 16 months corresponding to the lockdowns in Türkiye, and the remaining 67.5% in 10 months thereafter. Human rhinovirus/enterovirus (hRE) (48.3%) was the most common agent detected during and after lockdown. Parainfluenza virus (PIV) (23.0%), influenza virus (9.8%), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (9.1%) were the other common agents. The 28.7% of episodes were lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), and complications and mortality were higher than upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) (25.0% vs 5.3%). Bacteremia was identified in 11.5% of culture-drawn episodes. Treatment delay in one-third and death within four weeks after RVI in 4.9% of episodes were observed. During the pandemic, fewer episodes of RVIs occurred during the lockdown period. Respiratory viruses may cause complications, delays in treatment, and even death in children with cancer. Therefore, increased awareness of RVIs and rapid detection of respiratory viruses will benefit the prevention and, in some cases, abrupt supportive and some antiviral treatment of RVI in children with cancer.

The bidirectional interplay of obstructive sleep apnea and viral respiratory infections in children: A novel opportunity for primary prevention.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and viral respiratory infections are highly prevalent conditions in children and a major cause of respiratory morbidity in this age group. Severe viral respiratory infections are a known risk factor for pediatric OSA, which is primarily caused by hypertrophy of upper airway lymphoid tissues (adenoids and tonsils). This review examines recent progress in understanding early-life development of lymphoid tissues in the human upper airway, with a particular focus on how respiratory viruses may influence this process and contribute to OSA pathogenesis. It also explores the bidirectional relationship between OSA and severe viral infections, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and novel primary prevention strategies to address these interconnected conditions.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Upper Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Children in Guangdong, China.

Researches on the epidemiology of various respiratory pathogens at multiple testing points in the pediatric population are limited, and these are crucial for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children. We obtained 1788 upper respiratory tract swabs from children exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection (notably fever with a body temperature exceeding 38.5°C) across five hospitals in Guangdong between November 2020 and June 2022. We used the multiplex probe amplification (MPA) PCR testing to identify 11 respiratory viruses and subsequently analyzed the prevalence characteristics of these pathogens among febrile children in hospitals. The overall detection rate of the pathogens was 58.1% (1039/1788). Human rhinovirus (HRV) exhibited the highest detection rate at 19.0% (339/1788), succeeded by human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human adenovirus (HAdV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The positivity and coinfection rates were higher in children aged 5 years and below compared to those above 5 years. Moreover, a distinct pathogen spectrum was observed across different age groups. Hospitalized patients demonstrated a significantly higher positivity and coinfection rate compared to outpatients. During COVID-2019, RSV appeared a counter-seasonal trend. Respiratory viral infections in children display distinct characteristics concerning age, hospitalization status, and seasonality. Children under the age of 5 and minor patients admitted to hospitals at least be tested for RSV, HRV, HPIV, and HAdV. The epidemiological patterns of RSV in the post-epidemic period require ongoing surveillance.

Attribution of invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) to predisposing viral infections, the Netherlands, 2010 to 2023.

BackgroundAfter most COVID-19 pandemic control measures were lifted in 2022, many infectious diseases re-emerged. An increase in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections among adults and young children was reported by several countries. Viral infections including influenza and varicella, known risk factors for iGAS infection, also increased.AimTo estimate the proportion of GAS skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and pneumonia/sepsis in children (≤ 5 years) attributable to varicella, and the proportion of GAS pneumonia/sepsis in children and adults attributable to potentially predisposing respiratory viruses influenza A and B, RSV, hMPV and SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands.MethodsWe performed time series regression using weekly data on respiratory viruses, varicella and non-invasive GAS infections and GAS isolates cultured from blood, lower airways, skin, pus and wounds, from January 2010 to March 2023.ResultsIn 2010-19, 50% (95% CI: 36-64) of GAS SSTI in children were attributable to varicella. Between January 2022 and March 2023, 34% (95% CI: 24-43) of GAS SSTI cases were attributable to varicella. Of iGAS pneumonia/sepsis between January 2022 and March 2023, 34% (95% CI: 20-49) and 25% (95% CI: 18-32) was attributable to respiratory virus infections in children and adults, respectively, with the largest contributor (17%) being influenza A.ConclusionsPredisposing viral infections likely contributed to, but cannot fully explain, the observed iGAS increase among children and adults in 2022-23 in the Netherlands. Public health measures to control viral infections, such as vaccination against varicella or influenza, might reduce the iGAS disease burden.

Etiological structure of acute respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals in Saint Petersburg in 2017–2022

Etiological structure of acute respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals in Saint Petersburg in 2017–2022

Respiratory viral infections in children with cancer and febrile neutropenia and children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The scope of this review is to understand the epidemiology and potential role of respiratory viral infections in children with cancer and febrile neutropenia, as well as in children, undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Early detection of respiratory viral infections through molecular diagnostic techniques has allowed recent randomized clinical studies to advance the possibility of more rational use of antimicrobials in this susceptible population. Progress has been made in the early detection of respiratory viruses in episodes of fever and neutropenia in children with cancer. In selected patients who meet specific clinical safety criteria and have negative bacterial cultures, it has been possible to safely and effectively discontinue antimicrobials. This has been validated in recent randomized clinical studies. However, more evidence is still needed for a similar indication in children, undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with viral respiratory infection episodes. Understanding the role of respiratory viral infections in populations of immunocompromised children may contribute to a more rational use of antimicrobials and, in the near future, may help to decrease antimicrobial resistance in this susceptible population.

Epidemiological study of post-pandemic pediatric common respiratory pathogens using multiplex detection

BackgroundThe burden and characteristics of respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era are unclear. We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with common respiratory virus infections before and after relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions in Hangzhou, China and evaluated the diagnostic value of the six-panel respiratory pathogen detection system.MethodsSix types of respiratory viruses were detected in respiratory samples from children with suspected ARTIs by multiplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Changes in virus detection rates and epidemiological and clinical characteristics, obtained from electronic health records, were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to identify respiratory tract infections risk factors. Multiplex RT-qPCR and targeted next-generation sequencing results were compared in random samples.ResultsAmong the 11,056 pediatric samples, 3228 tested positive for one or more of six common respiratory pathogens. RSV and PIV-3 detection rates differed significantly across age groups (both P < 0.001), and were more common in younger children. PIV-1 was more common in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers than in school-age children (P < 0.001). FluB was predominantly detected in school-age children (P < 0.001). RSV-, ADV-, and PIV-1-positivity rates were higher in 2022 than in 2023. Seasonal viral patterns differed across years. RSV (OR 9.156. 95% CI 5.905–14.195) and PIV-3 (OR 1.683, 95% CI 1.133–2.501) were risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections. RSV-positivity was associated with severe pneumonia (P = 0.044). PIV-3 (OR 0.391, 95% CI 0.170–0.899), summer season (OR 1.982, 95% CI 1.117–3.519), and younger age (OR 0.938, 95% CI 0.893–0.986) influenced pneumonia severity. Multiplex RT-qPCR showed good diagnostic performance.ConclusionAfter changes in COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, six common respiratory viruses in children were prevalent in 2022–2023, with different seasonal epidemic characteristics and age proclivities. RSV and PIV-3 cause lower, and FluA, FluB, and ADV more typically cause upper respiratory tract infections. Infancy and summer season influence severe pneumonia risk. Multiplex RT-qPCR is valuable for accurate and timely detection of respiratory viruses in children, which facilitates management, treatment, and prevention of ARTIs.

Changes in the etiological structure of severe acute respiratory viral infections in children and adults under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. The traditional surveillance system for influenza and ARVI provides a general description of epidemics, but does not provide information on the age-related characteristics of the etiology and clinical peculiarities of severe acute respiratory diseases (SARI) in hospitalized patients. Aim. To monitor the etiology of SARI in hospitalized children and adults, assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this process. Materials and methods. Standardized clinical and laboratory monitoring of SARI among 18,458 hospitalized patients was carried out in hospitals in three cities of Russia with weekly PCR detection of 11 types of pathogens. Results. According to the investigation of hospitalized patients with SARI for the period from 2018 to 2023, the viral etiology of respiratory diseases was deciphered in 58.3% of cases. Weekly monitoring showed a change in the etiological mosaic of SARI pathogens during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with a sharp decrease in the frequency of detection of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the 2020–2021 season against the background of a significant increase of metapneumovirus and rhinovirus infections in children. During the 2022-2023 season an increase in the proportion of RSV infection in children under 6 years of age (up to 36.2%) was noted against the background of a significant decrease in the frequency of SARS-CoV-2. In the intensive care units (ICU), RSV infection was most often in children during the post-pandemic period (up to 30.1–53.6% of positive cases, p 0.001); in adults, SARS-CoV-2 was mostly detected (76,5–100% of cases, p 0.001). Conclusion. Hospital surveillance data significantly complements the epidemiological information obtained in the traditional surveillance system. Monitoring of infections has shown a continuously changing etiological infrastructure of SARI, with the disappearance of influenza and RSV during the COVID-19 pandemic and their return to circulation in the post-pandemic period.

Prevalence of non- SARS CoV-2 respiratory virus infection in children during COVID-19 pandemic in Chennai, South India.

Acute respiratory virus infections (ARIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Respiratory viral infections in children have been significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Variations in the prevalence of respiratory virus infections have been associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which corresponds to the clinical epidemiology of community-acquired respiratory viruses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of acute respiratory viral infection in COVID-19 negative children. The study included 100 SARS-CoV2 negative children with respiratory tract infections. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the prevalence of respiratory viruses causing ARI in children. In our study, adenovirus and HRSV-A were predominantly reported in SARS-CoV2 negative children. The results of the study indicated that the incidence of viruses causing acute respiratory tract infections in children changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presence and Significance of Multiple Respiratory Viral Infections in Children Admitted to a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital in Italy

Viral co-infections are frequently observed among children, but whether specific viral interactions enhance or diminish the severity of respiratory disease is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the type of viral mono- and co-infections by also evaluating viral correlations in 3525 respiratory samples from 3525 pediatric in/outpatients screened by the Allplex Respiratory Panel Assays and with a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-COronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test available. Overall, viral co-infections were detected in 37.8% of patients and were more frequently observed in specimens from children with lower respiratory tract infections compared to those with upper respiratory tract infections (47.1% vs. 36.0%, p = 0.003). SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A were more commonly detected in mono-infections, whereas human bocavirus showed the highest co-infection rate (87.8% in co-infection). After analyzing viral pairings using Spearman’s correlation test, it was noted that SARS-CoV-2 was negatively associated with all other respiratory viruses, whereas a markedly significant positive correlation (p &lt; 0.001) was observed for five viral pairings (involving adenovirus/human bocavirus/human enterovirus/metapneumoviruses/rhinovirus). The correlation between co-infection and clinical outcome may be linked to the type of virus(es) involved in the co-infection rather than simple co-presence. Further studies dedicated to this important point are needed, since it has obvious implications from a diagnostic and clinical point of view.

Monocyte Production of C1q Potentiates CD8+ T-Cell Function Following Respiratory Viral Infection.

Respiratory viral infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Using a murine model of human metapneumovirus, we identified recruitment of a C1q-expressing inflammatory monocyte population concomitant with viral clearance by adaptive immune cells. Genetic ablation of C1q led to reduced CD8+ T-cell function. Production of C1q by a myeloid lineage was necessary to enhance CD8+ T-cell function. Activated and dividing CD8+ T cells expressed a C1q receptor, gC1qR. Perturbation of gC1qR signaling led to altered CD8+ T-cell IFN-γ production, metabolic capacity, and cell proliferation. Autopsy specimens from fatal respiratory viral infections in children exhibited diffuse production of C1q by an interstitial population. Humans with severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection also exhibited upregulation of gC1qR on activated and rapidly dividing CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these studies implicate C1q production from monocytes as a critical regulator of CD8+ T-cell function following respiratory viral infection.

Pre-admission virus detection during the COVID-19 pandemic in children with and without symptoms of infection.

Pre-admission viral screening is used only in exceptional situations such as pandemics. We therefore evaluated pre-admission screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing epidemiology and clinical features of admitted children. Children were screened at a paediatric emergency department from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022 by nasopharyngeal sampling and polymerase chain reaction kit. We retrospectively retrieved positive results from the laboratory and scrutinised charts of admitted children. Out of 15 927 screened children, 522, 127 and 572 were positive and admitted with RSV, influenza A or SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Of these, 29 (5.6%), 26 (24.1%) and 245 (44.8%) were incidental findings, lacking symptoms of infection. RSV and influenza A were initially absent but re-emerged in the autumn of 2021. The rate of COVID-19 rose when the Omicron variant emerged in December 2021. The median age of children with RSV was 0.3 years, of those with influenza A 6.7 years and of those with COVID-19 1.6 years. Major complications were rare. Frequent incidental detections of SARS-CoV-2 likely reflected widespread presence of a mild infection. Clinically, COVID-19 was like other viral respiratory infections in children.

Respiratory virus infection and its influence on outcome in children with septic shock

Objective: To investigate respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock in pediatric care units (PICU) in China and its influence on clinical outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of children with septic shock in children's PICU from January 2018 to December 2019 in 10 Chinese hospitals were retrospectively collected. They were divided into the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 groups according to the onset of disease, and the characteristics and composition of respiratory virus in the 2 groups were compared. Matching age, malignant underlying diseases, bacteria, fungi and other viruses, a new database was generated using 1∶1 propensity score matching method. The children were divided into the respiratory virus group and non-respiratory virus group according to the presence or absence of respiratory virus infection; their clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment were compared by t-test, rank sum test and Chi-square test. The correlation between respiratory virus infection and the clinical outcomes was analyzed by logistic regression. Results: A total of 1 247 children with septic shock were included in the study, of them 748 were male; the age was 37 (11, 105) months. In the pre-and post-COVID-19 groups, there were 530 and 717 cases of septic shock, respectively; the positive rate of respiratory virus was 14.9% (79 cases) and 9.8% (70 cases); the seasonal distribution of septic shock was 28.9% (153/530) and 25.9% (185/717) in autumn, and 30.3% (161/530) and 28.3% (203/717) in winter, respectively, and the corresponding positive rates of respiratory viruses were 19.6% (30/153) and 15.7% (29/185) in autumn, and 21.1% (34/161) and 15.3% (31/203) in winter, respectively. The positive rates of influenza virus and adenovirus in the post-COVID-19 group were lower than those in the pre-COVID-19 group (2.1% (15/717) vs. 7.5% (40/530), and 0.7% (5/717) vs. 3.2% (17/530), χ2=21.51 and 11.08, respectively; all P<0.05). Rhinovirus virus were higher than those in the pre-Covid-19 group (1.7% (12/717) vs. 0.2% (1/530), χ2=6.51, P=0.011). After propensity score matching, there were 147 cases in both the respiratory virus group and the non-respiratory virus group. Rate of respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress, rate of disseminated coagulation dysfunction, and immunoglobulin usage of the respiratory virus group were higher than those of non-respiratory virus group (77.6% (114/147) vs. 59.2% (87/147), 17.7% (26/147) vs. 4.1% (6/147), 15.6% (25/147) vs. 4.1% (7/147), and 35.4% (52/147) vs. 21.4% (32/147); χ2=11.07, 14.02, 11.06 and 6.67, all P<0.05); and PICU hospitalization of the former was longer than that of the later (7 (3, 16) vs. 3 (1, 7)d, Z=5.01, P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of respiratory viral infection was associated with respiratory failure, disseminated coagulation dysfunction, the use of mechanical ventilation, and the use of immunoglobulin and anti-respiratory viral drugs (OR=2.42, 0.22, 0.25, 0.56 and 1.12, all P<0.05). Conclusions: The composition of respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock is different between pre and post-COVID-19. Respiratory viral infection is associated with organ dysfunction in children with septic shock. Decreasing respiratory viral infection through respiratory protection may improve the clinical outcome of these children.

Change of epidemiological characteristics of four respiratory viral infections in children before and during COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesViruses are the main infectious agents of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children. We aim to describe the changes in epidemic characteristics of viral ARIs in outpatient children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and methodsFrom 2017 to 2022, the results of viral detection in oral pharyngeal swabs in 479,236 children with ARIs in the outpatient department of Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. Viral antigens, including adenovirus (ADV), influenza A (FLUA), influenza B (FLUB) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were detected by the colloidal gold method. ResultsThe median age was 3.4 (1.6–5.6) years. Among all the children, 159,895 cases (33.4 %) were positive for at least one virus. The total positive rate for ADV, FLUA and FLUB during the pandemic period was lower than during the pre-pandemic period in every season (pre-pandemic period vs. pandemic period11.7 % vs. 4.7 %, 13.9 % vs. 9.2 %, 7.0 % vs. 5.2 %, respectively, with overall p value < 0.001). However, the positive rate fir RSV was not significantly different between the pre-pandemic period and the pandemic period (5.6 % vs. 5.8 %, p = 0.117). Atypical timing of RSV (summer-autumn 2021) and FLUA (summer 2022) was noted. ConclusionsPublic health interventions for different pathogens are maximally effective. While positive rates for ADV, FLUA and FLUB decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic period, positive rates for RSV remained similar. In RSV and FLUA, off-season outbreaks were observed. Measures need to be taken to protect children from possible infection surges due to immunity debt having accrued over the last three years.

Enteroviruses in the etiology of acute respiratory viral infections in children, Novosibirsk, Russia

Aim. To assess the contribution of human enteroviruses to the overall structure of acute respiratory viral infections in children in Novosibirsk during the epidemic season 2022–2023. Material and Methods. 1132 samples collected from children aged 0–15 years with symptoms of ARVI were analyzed by real–time PCR for the presence of genetic material of respiratory viruses, including enteroviruses. Results. 65.2 % of the examined children were positive for at least one virus, including enteroviruses. Respiratory syncytial virus was most often found in children during this period, which accounted for 17.2 % of the total number of samples studied. Influenza virus was detected in 14.2 % of the examined children. Enteroviruses were detected in 9.2 % of cases and rhinovirus was detected in 10.8 % of the examined children. Conclusions. Respiratory enteroviruses, along with rhinovirus, occupy a significant place in the etiology of acute respiratory viral infections in children. The study of the epidemiology of enteroviruses is necessary to understand the clinical manifestations and outcomes of enterovirus infection, and to assess the burden of diseases caused by enteroviruses, which is important for optimizing prevention and therapy strategies.

Retrospective analysis of the prevalence of acute respiratory infections in children of the Ivano-Frankivsk region

Background. The article presents modern data about the prevalence and peculiarities of the course of acute respiratory viral infections in a childhood based on retrospective analysis of medical records. The purpose of this article was to analyze the epidemiology and features of acute respiratory viral infections in children based on the retrospective analysis of medical records, and reports of the Public Health Center. Materials and methods. Extracts from the medical charts of inpatients with acute respiratory pathology and statistical reports of the work of the ENT department of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital for 2017–2022, which included 1,177 patients, were carefully studied. Results. The clinical features of acute respiratory infections in children hospitalized to the ENT department were as follows: age over 3 years (89 %), frequent admissions to the hospital (&gt; 4 times a year) at the age of 4–5 years, nasal congestion (87.0 %), headache (72.0 %), body temperature above 37.9 °С (37 %), purulent nasal discharge (20 %), cough (15.6 %), general weakness (12.3 %). The average duration of the disease before hospitalization was 8.0 ± 0.2 days, and after hospitalization, it was 7.0 ± 0.1 days. It was found that those hospitalized had mostly ENT pathology, which initially was more likely to be viral (75.0 %); moreover, predominantly girls were affected (45 %), χ2 = 15.7, p &lt; 0.05. At the same time, the proportion of combined forms of ENT diseases with a complicated course was 25 %, and boys were more likely to be affected (60 %), χ2 = 18.9, p &lt; 0.05. Pansinusitis, on the other hand, occurred more often against the background of secondary chronic pathology (70.0 and 30.0 %, p &lt; 0.05), χ2 = 32, p &lt; 0.05. During all years of observation, the age group of 3 years and older prevailed among hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections. Most patients were admitted to the hospital in a condition of moderate severity. In all children hospitalized during the reporting period, we have found signs of respiratory syndrome such as nasal congestion and anosmia, sore throat, cough, purulent nasal discharge, as well as symptoms of intoxication: general weakness, headache, fever. ­Conclusions. The obtained data require further study and observation in the dynamics in order to stratify risk factors for the development of IgA-vasculitis in a childhood.

Влияние противовирусной терапии на течение острых респи- раторных вирусных инфекций у детей в современных условиях

Aim: to assess the efficacy of antiviral therapy in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children in the context of contemporary clinical practice Patients and Methods: the study employed a pharmacoepidemiologic approach, utilizing a questionnaire survey of physicians to collect data on 6,116 children aged 3 to 7 years with mild to moderate acute respiratory infections. The study group included 5,144 (84%) children who received inosine pranobex. Comparison group 1 included 654 (11%) children who received other antivirals or immunomodulators. Comparison group 2 included 318 (5%) children who did not receive any etiological therapy. The clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections, their duration, disease duration, complications, therapy, and the rationale for the choice of medications by the physician were analyzed. Results: disease duration in the study group (5.97±1.57 days) was significantly lower than in comparison group 1 (6.82±1.84 days, p&lt;0.001) and comparison group 2 (6.79±1.88 days, p&lt;0.001). Persistent complaints during convalescence were observed in 288 (5.6%) children in the study group, 154 (23.5%) children in comparison group 1, and 61 (19.2%) children in comparison group 2. Complications were reported in 164 (3.2%) children of the study group (n=169), 104 children (n=107, 15.9%; p&lt;0.0001) in the comparison group 1, and 34 (n=34, 10.7%; p&lt;0.0001) children of the comparison group 2. Conclusion: inosine pranobex has been demonstrated to reduce the rate of complications, prolonged cough, runny nose, and sore throat during convalescence, as well as overall disease duration, duration of the febrile period, and catarrhal phenomena in acute respiratory viral infections in children KEYWORDS: acute respiratory viral infections, COVID-19, herpesvirus infections, inosine pranobex, nasopharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, tonsillopharyngitis, real clinical practice, children. FOR CITATION: Ruzhentsova T.A., Garbuzov A.A., Meshkova N.A., Popova R.V., Slyusar O.I. Effect of antiviral therapy on the course of acute respiratory viral infections in children in contemporary conditions. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2024;7(2):163–170 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2024-7-2-12.

Оценка эффективности нового режима дозирования препарата рекомбинантного интерферона α-2b, суппозитории ректальные, в терапии гриппа и других ОРВИ у детей с отклонениями в состоянии здоровья

Objective. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of a new modified regimen of Viferon®, rectal suppositories, compared with placebo in the complex therapy of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in children aged from one month to 18 years with functional and morphofunctional health deviations (health groups II–IV). Patients and methods. We present the results of analysis for 66 patients recruited at the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "Tver State Medical Academy" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation within the framework of a multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of Viferon®, rectal suppositories as a treatment for influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. Patients were randomised into two groups – group 1 received symptomatic therapy and Viferon®, rectal suppositories, dosage according to age group. Group 2 patients received similar symptomatic therapy and placebo preparation. Therapy was carried out for 10 days, follow-up of patients – 10 days of therapy and further in 1, 3 and 6 months after the end of treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using biostatistical programming language R (version 4.0.3), as well as MS Word 10 and MS Excel 10 applications. Differences were considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05. Results. Inclusion of Viferon®, rectal suppositories in the therapy of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in children with abnormal health status allowed to shorten the time of improvement and recovery, contributed to the reduction of the proportion of patients with complicated course of the disease compared to placebo. The use of Viferon®, rectal suppositories allowed not only therapeutic effect on the course of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, but also promoted rapid recovery of the antioxidant defence system of the organism and prevented the development of repeated episodes of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections during follow-up. Conclusion. Complex therapy of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in children with functional and morphofunctional abnormalities in health status (belonging to health groups II-IV) using a new modified dosing regimen of Viferon®, rectal suppositories with higher doses and duration of the course of therapy allows to reduce the time of improvement and recovery of patients compared to placebo. When using the drug Viferon®, rectal suppositories according to the new modified scheme of therapy in children with deviations in the state of health there was observed a reduction in the frequency of complicated course of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, as well as a decrease in recurrent episodes of the disease in the period of follow-up in 1 and 3 months. Due to highly active antioxidants included in the preparation Viferon®, rectal suppositories, its use had a favourable effect on the antioxidant defence system of the organism. Key words: influenza, ARVI, children, immunity, interferon, Viferon, antioxidant defence system of the organism

The effect of topical drugs on the course of ARVI in children in modern conditions

The purpose of the study. To evaluate the results of using a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride in the treatment regimens of acute respiratory viral infections in children today. Materials and methods. The study included 875 children aged 3 to 18 years with acute respiratory viral infections, which occurred in mild or moderate forms, and were treated on an outpatient basis. During the non-interventional study, a retrospective analysis of information from medical records was made. The main group included 318 children who were recommended therapy with a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride, the comparison group included 557 children who received other topical drugs. Results. Recovery was statistically significantly earlier in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride: from the moment of initiation of therapy, the disease period in the main group was 6.78±1.72 days, while in the comparison group it was 1.34 days longer – 8.12±3.32. It was found that benzidamine hydrochloride significantly reduces the period of tickling and sore throat from 5.10±1.38 in the comparison group to 4.08±1.41 in the main group, hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall – from 8.11±3.27 in the comparison group to 6.68±1.6 days in the main group, hyperemia of the tonsils – from 7.85±1.84 in the comparison group to 6.86±1.77 in the main group. Relief of dry cough was recorded in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride at 4.23±1.66 days, and in the group where other drugs were used – at 4.64±1.85 days. According to other indicators, no significant differences were found between the compared groups. Conclusion. The administration of a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride as part of complex therapy statistically significantly, on average, reduces the total duration of acute respiratory viral infections in children from 3 years old by 1.34 days, reduces the period of tickling and sore throat by 1.08 days; by 1.43 days – visual manifestations of pharyngitis, by 1.0 days – tonsillitis; reduces the duration of dry cough.