COVID-19 pandemic reshaped seasonal patterns and age distributions of respiratory viruses

Publication date: Dec 27, 2024

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the changes in the prevalence and demographic characteristics of common respiratory viruses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) at Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, from January 2020 to December 2023. Specimens serum, nasopharyngeal aspirate, and alveolar lavage fluid were collected for direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA): respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), influenza A virus (IAV), influenza B virus (IBV), and parainfluenza virus (PIV). Demographic data and laboratory test results were analyzed accordingly. Results: A total of 10,193 patients were enrolled. The positive infection rates for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 were 3.97%, 3.15%, 36.20%, and 38.82%, respectively. The seasonal patterns for ADV transitioned from peaking in the summer and autumn of 2022 to summer and winter in 2023, while RSV peaked in the spring and summer of 2022 but moved to spring and autumn in 2023. PIV shifted from autumn 2022 to both spring and autumn in 2023. Intriguingly, IAV stably remained a two-season pattern of summer and winter in 2022 and 2023, while IBV showed up at 2022 winter but largely diminished later. The age distribution of children infected with ADV, RSV and PIV showed an upward trend, while no significant changes were observed for IAV and IBV. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the seasonal circulation of respiratory viruses. The seasonal pattern of influenza virus has been restored in 2022. In contrast, ADV, PIV, and RSV showed significant seasonal changes after the pandemic. The increasing age distributions of cases indicates an expanded age range of infection. Continuous monitoring of pathogen distribution and adjustment of preventive strategies are crucial for the effective management of pediatric ARIs.

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Concepts Keywords
0890117120930536d Covid
Coronavirus December
December Doi
Hospitalization Influenza
Smartcycler Medrxiv
Pandemic
Piv
Positive
Preprint
Rate
Respiratory
Rsv
Virus
Viruses
Years

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19 pandemic
disease MESH respiratory infections
disease IDO assay
drug DRUGBANK Influenza A virus
drug DRUGBANK Influenza B virus
disease MESH parainfluenza
disease MESH infection
disease MESH influenza
disease IDO pathogen
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH RSV infections
disease IDO susceptible population
disease MESH viral infection
disease MESH drug abuse
drug DRUGBANK Huperzine B
disease IDO acute infection
disease IDO blood
disease MESH leukocytosis
disease MESH leukopenia
disease IDO symptom
disease MESH sore throat
disease MESH edema
disease MESH chest pain
disease MESH congenital heart disease
disease MESH allergic rhinitis
disease MESH tuberculosis
pathway KEGG Tuberculosis
disease MESH bronchial asthma
disease IDO nucleic acid
drug DRUGBANK Inositol nicotinate
disease MESH infectious diseases
disease IDO intervention

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