Researchers in the Clinical Microbiology Service and Clinic Pediatrics The University of Navarra revealed in a study that it was not until May 2022 that Covid-19 broke the traditional seasonality of influenza and syncytial viruses.
The scientific journal Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice has just published the study’s conclusions. 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. .
“After Covid-19, the seasonality of respiratory viral infections has changed significantly compared to before the pandemic. Traditionally, we have two large viral epidemics per year: syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. RSV causes Bronchiolitis “This disease has a special clinical impact in children under 2 years of age and is usually detected between October and March. However, after the quarantine in the spring and the lifting of preventive measures in schools, we saw a high incidence between March and July” explains Melania Íñigo, from the Department of Clinical Microbiology of the Clinical University of Navarra and lead author of the publication author.
“At the same time, influenza epidemics usually occur between November and December and March and April. They will basically disappear until December in 2021, and the epidemic peak will occur between March and May 2022. We have now recovered. Seasonality of both. Pandemic,” Inigo said.
Some of the most important data of the study were also signed by two students from the School of Medicine at the University of Navarra, is a change in the diagnostic algorithm It existed at that time and is partially preserved 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. With the pandemic, there is a need for PCR, and later testing “antigen testing while traveling or in quarantine, created a situation of widespread diagnosis that led to the collapse of laboratories and medical centers. Once this phase is overcome, the trend should be towards a return to previously diagnosed indications for high-risk groups,” the researchers said.
Masks and vaccinations
Regarding the use of masks, Inigo believes that “the use should be recommended in the same situations as before the pandemic, that is, during influenza epidemics, when we are with people with risk factors, such as in respiratory syncytial virus infections “Period infants,” or the elderly, immunosuppressed patients, 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 in this age group,” the researchers concluded. European Press.