Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTIs) in Children after COVID-19-Related Social Distancing: An Epidemiological Study in a Single Center of Southern Italy.

Publication date: Jun 25, 2024

In Sicily (Italy), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus (HRV), and influenza virus triggered epidemics among children, resulting in an increase in acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Our objective was to capture the epidemiology of respiratory infections in children, determining which pathogens were associated with respiratory infections following the lockdown and whether there were changes in the epidemiological landscape during the post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era. We analyzed multiplex respiratory viral PCR data (BioFire FilmArray Respiratory Panel 2. 1 Plus) from 204 children presenting with respiratory symptoms and/or fever to our Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency. Viruses were predominantly responsible for ARTIs (99%), with RSV emerging as the most common agent involved in respiratory infections, followed by human rhinovirus/enterovirus and influenza A. RSV and rhinovirus were also the primary agents in coinfections. RSV predominated during winter months, while HRV/EV exhibited greater prevalence than RSV during the fall. Some viruses spread exclusively in coinfections (human coronavirus NL63, adenovirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza viruses 1-3), while others primarily caused mono-infections (influenza A and B). SARS-CoV-2 was detected equally in both mono-infections (41%) and coinfections (59%). Our analysis underlines the predominance of RSV and the importance of implementing preventive strategies for RSV.

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Concepts	Keywords
Biofire	adenovirus
Pandemic	COVID-19
Pcr	epidemiology
Rhinovirus	influenza A
Sicily	multiplex PCR
	respiratory infections
	rhinovirus
	RSV
	SARS-CoV-2

Semantics

Type	Source	Name
disease	MESH	Respiratory Tract Infections
disease	MESH	COVID-19
disease	VO	Respiratory syncytial virus
disease	MESH	influenza
disease	MESH	Emergency
disease	VO	Enterovirus
pathway	KEGG	Influenza A
disease	MESH	coinfections
disease	VO	Metapneumovirus
disease	MESH	parainfluenza
disease	MESH	infections
drug	DRUGBANK	Coenzyme M
drug	DRUGBANK	L-Aspartic Acid
disease	IDO	pathogen
disease	MESH	pneumonia
disease	MESH	bronchiolitis
disease	VO	vaccination
drug	DRUGBANK	Gold
disease	VO	Optaflu
disease	VO	protocol
disease	VO	Bacteria
disease	VO	time
disease	IDO	assay
disease	VO	Bordetella pertussis
disease	MESH	viral infections
disease	IDO	infection
disease	MESH	morbidity
disease	IDO	country
disease	VO	immunization
disease	VO	Gap
disease	MESH	complications
disease	VO	population
pathway	REACTOME	Immune System
disease	MESH	viral shedding
disease	MESH	superinfection
disease	IDO	primary pathogen
disease	MESH	Pharyngitis
drug	DRUGBANK	(S)-Des-Me-Ampa
disease	MESH	Etiology
disease	IDO	cell
drug	DRUGBANK	Carboxyamidotriazole
disease	MESH	acute respiratory distress syndrome
disease	MESH	mouth disease
disease	VO	report

Original Article

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