COVID-19 breaks influenza and syncytial virus seasonality in children until spring 2022

Among other things, this pandemic has been a focal point for science, and there is still much to investigate and learn. The scientific journal Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice has just published the conclusions of a study conducted between the Clinical Microbiology Service and the Department of Pediatrics of the Clinical University of Navarra, which explains that COVID-19 breaks the traditional influenza season sex, as well as syncytial viruses, until May 2022.

Analysis shows that after preventive restrictions were lifted in the spring of 2021 and children and adolescents returned to school, the spread of common viruses in this age group gradually increased, showing abnormal delays and over-limit peaks. .

as explained Dr. Melania InigoAccording to the Clinical Microbiology Service of the Clinical University of Navarra and lead author of the publication, after COVID-19, “there has been a clear change in the seasonality of respiratory viral infections compared to before the pandemic. Traditionally, we have two major viral epidemics each year: syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. RSV bronchiolitis has a specific clinical impact in children younger than 2 years of age and is usually detected between October and March. However, after restrictions and school precautions were lifted that spring, we saw high incidence rates between March and July. immediately, Influenza epidemics usually occur between November and December and March and April. They will not basically disappear until December in 2021, and the epidemic peak will occur between March and May 2022.. We have now restored seasonality for both epidemics. ”

Some of the most important data from the study Two students from the School of Medicine at the University of Navarra also signed

Dr. Inigo emphasized: “His vision greatly enriched our work, which was a change in diagnostic algorithms at that time and is still partially maintained today.”

“Before COVID-19, many respiratory infections occurred without a clear microbiological diagnosis, except in severe cases, in hospitalized patients, or in high-risk groups that could benefit from antiviral treatment. During the epidemic, while traveling or in quarantine The need to perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent antigen testing has created a situation of widespread diagnosis, leading to the collapse of laboratories and medical centers. Once this phase is overcome, the trend should be to return to the previous diagnostic indicators for high-risk groups.”

Preventive masks and vaccinations

Are the data from this study sufficient to recommend masks in children’s classrooms during the common flu or RSV? Dr. Melania Inigo believes that “As before the pandemic, i.e. during an influenza epidemic, the use of masks should be recommended when we are around people with risk factors.

, such as infants during RSV season, or the elderly, immunosuppressed, or pregnant women. ”

Additionally, experts believe vaccination is “necessary” for these high-risk groups. “This year, Spain introduced RSV immunization for infants under 6 months of age, and although we have not yet analyzed the data, we observed a very significant decrease this year in both the number of hospital admissions and the bronchiolitis symptom severity index across age groups”.