Changes in the Epidemiology of Respiratory Pathogens in Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Pathogens (Basel) 2022-12, Vol.11 (12), p.1542
• Main Authors: Lamrani Hanchi, Asmae, Guennouni, Morad, Ben Houmich, Toufik, Echchakery, Mohamed, Draiss, Ghizlane, Rada, Noureddine, Younous, Said, Bouskraoui, Mohamed, Soraa, Nabila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups; Bacteria; Causes of; Children; Control; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Distribution; Epidemics; Epidemiology; film array® respiratory panel; Identification and classification; Illnesses; Infections; Influence; Influenza; Influenza A; Laboratories; Morocco; mPCR; Outbreaks; Pandemics; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Pediatric research; Pediatric respiratory diseases; Pediatrics; Pneumonia; Public health; Respiratory diseases; respiratory pathogens; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory tract infections; Rhinovirus; Risk factors; SARI; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Statistical analysis; Viral diseases; Viruses; Whooping cough; Winter
• ISSN: 2076-0817; 2076-0817
• DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121542

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant decrease in non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses were observed, suggesting that the implementation of measures against COVID-19 affected the transmission of other respiratory pathogens. The aim of this study was to highlight the changes in the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. All children with Severe Acute respiratory illness admitted to the pediatric departments between January 2018 and December 2021 with negative COVID-19 PCR, were enrolled. The detection of respiratory pathogens was made by the Film Array Respiratory Panel. A total of 902 respiratory specimens were tested. A significantly lower positivity rate during the COVID-19 period was found (p = 0.006), especially in infants under 6 months (p = 0.008). There was a substantial absence of detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A during the winter season following the outbreak of the pandemic (p < 0.05; p = 0.002 respectively). An inter-seasonal resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus was noted. Human Rhinovirus was detected throughout the year, and more prevalent in winter during COVID-19 (p = 0.0002). These changes could be explained by the impact of the implementation of preventive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the transmission of respiratory pathogens in children.