scholarly journals Disappearance of Seasonal Respiratory Viruses in Children Under Two Years Old During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Monocentric Retrospective Study in Milan, Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Ippolito ◽  
Adriano La Vecchia ◽  
Giulia Umbrello ◽  
Giada Di Pietro ◽  
Patrizia Bono ◽  
...  

Background: The containment measures adopted during COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses.Aim: We analyzed the modification of the incidence and etiology of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Case series of all children under 2 years old hospitalized at a tertiary care Hospital in the Center of Milan, Italy diagnosed with LRTIs in three consecutive winter seasons (from the 1st of November to the last day of February in 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021). We compared the number of hospitalizations and viral detections in the 2020/2021 with the average of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 (pre-COVID-19) using the Poisson distribution.Results: we enrolled 178 patients (66 from 2018/2019, 96 from 2019/2020, 16 from 2020/2021) 94 males (53%) and 84 females (47%), with a median (IQR) age of 5 (2–13) months. The number of hospitalizations during the 2020/2021 season was 80% lower than the average of the pre-COVID-19 seasons (16 vs. 81, p<0.001). Overall, 171 (96%) patient's nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) detected at least one virus (110, 64%, single-detection, 61, 36%, co-detections). In 2020/2021 we observed the disappearance of Respiratory Syncytial virus (0 vs. 54, p < 0.001), Influenza virus (0 vs. 6.5, p = 0.002), Metapneumovirus (0 vs. 8, p < 0.001), Parainfluenza viruses (0 vs. 3.5, p = 0.03) and a significant reduction of Adenovirus (2 vs. 7, p = 0.03), Bocavirus (2 vs. 7.5, p = 0.02) and Enterovirus (1 vs. 5, p = 0.04). No significant difference was found for Rhinoviruses (14 cases vs. 17, p = 0.2), other Coronaviruses (0 vs. 2, p = 0.1), and Cytomegalovirus (1 vs. 1, p = 0.7).Conclusions: We observed a striking reduction in hospitalizations due to LRTIs and a modification of the etiology, with enveloped viruses mainly affected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafik Dey ◽  
Melanie A. Folkins ◽  
Nicholas J. Ashbolt

AbstractHuman respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory tract infections in children and immunocompromised adults worldwide. Here we report that amoebae-release respirable-sized vesicles containing high concentrations of infectious RSV that persisted for the duration of the experiment. Given the ubiquity of amoebae in moist environments, our results suggest that extracellular amoebal-vesicles could contribute to the environmental persistence of respiratory viruses, including potential resistance to disinfection processes and thereby offering novel pathways for viral dissemination and transmission.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslınur Albayrak ◽  
Nazmi Mutlu Karakaş ◽  
Bensu Karahalil

Abstract BackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. Most URTIs have been shown to be of viral origin. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance. The problem of unnecessary antibiotic use among children is a concern for antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income developing countries.MethodsOur study is a cross-sectional survey study. It was carried out between 14 December 2020 and 1 April 2021 for parents over 18 years of age with a child under 18 years’ old who applied to the general pediatrics outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Department of Pediatrics.Results554 parents responded to the questionnaire. A total of 15.7% of parents stated to use antibiotics in any child with fever. 37% of parents believed that antibiotics could cure infections caused by viruses. 6.3% of parents declared that they put pressure on pediatricians to prescribe antibiotics. 85.6% of the parents stated that they never gave their children non-prescription antibiotics when they had a high fever. 80.9% of them declared that they never used past antibiotics in the presence of a new infection. Female gender, high level of education, high income level and low number of antibiotics used in the last 1 year were found to be statistically significant with the better knowledge level of the parents (p <0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of our study of parents' lack of knowledge about antibiotics in Turkey, though generally it shows proper attitude and behavior. It shows that some of the restrictions imposed by the National Action Plan are partially working. However, it is still necessary to continue to inform parents, pediatricians and pharmacists about the use of antibiotics, and to be more sensitive about the prescribing of antibiotics, and if necessary, sanctions should be imposed by the state in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.



Author(s):  
Molina U. Patel ◽  
Yuvraj Jadeja ◽  
Niket Patel ◽  
Nayana Patel ◽  
Smruti Vaishnav ◽  
...  

Background: Acute Kidney Injury is a common medical problem affecting approximately 5% of all hospitalized and 30% of critically ill patients. The incidence in obstetric patients ranges from 1 in 2000 to 1 in 25000 pregnancies. In India till date, the impact of AKI on fetomaternal outcome and pertaining therapeutic interventions is only sparsely studied.Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study. All obstetric patients with AKI on dialysis, admitted to Shree Krishna Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Karamsad village in Gujarat from January 2013 to August 2015. Multivariate statistical analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters was performed using SPSS program to obtain the results.Results: The incidence of dialysis was 1.6%. HELLP syndrome and pre-eclampsia (80%) was found to be the most common etiology of AKI followed by Congestive cardiac failure (34.5%), hemorrhage and sepsis in 30% resp. All patients were admitted to ICU care. No significant difference was found between SAP II and SOFA monitoring system. Mechanical ventilation was done to support 53.3% and inotropic support was needed by 56.7% patients. According to the RIFLE criteria, majority of the patients fall under risk category followed by injury. 18% of the patients developed End Stage Renal Disease.Conclusions: In view of the multifaceted etiologies and complexity of management of AKI, a multi-disciplinary approach involving nephrologist, intensivists, obstetricians and neonatologists is extremely important.



2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-254
Author(s):  
Figen Gülen ◽  
Candan Cicek ◽  
Zafer Kurugol ◽  
Esen Demir ◽  
Dost Zeyrek ◽  
...  

The present study was aimed to investigate characteristics of lower respiratory tract infections caused by parainfluenza type 3 viruses. Nasopharyngeal smears were taken from 178 patients with lower respiratory infections for the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses between December 2004 and April 2005. Parainfluenza type 3 was isolated from the viral specimens of 96 (53.9%) patients and it was noticeable that the parainfluenza type 3 outbreak occurs during winter. Obviously, improving the aetiological diagnosis of viral infections might avoid unnecessary therapy, antibiotics in particular, and would allow for preventive isolation of infected patients.



Author(s):  
Omair sohail ahmed ◽  
Mohammed Abdul Ali ◽  
Omer wasiq ◽  
Syed Mujtaba Pasha ◽  
Mohammed Mukaram ◽  
...  

The drug utilization pattern of respiratory tract infections to assess the rational prescribing pattern at tertiary care teaching hospital, endorsing drugs by mark names may undermine a portion of the objectives of fundamental solution idea. Recommending by nonexclusive name causes the clinic drug store to have a superior stock control. This will likewise assist the drug store with purchasing drugs on contract premise, as the quantity of brands is less, in this manner decreasing the perplexity among drug specialists while apportioning. Bland medications are regularly more temperate than the marked ones. With respect to recommending of FDCs, Potential points of interest of FDC's incorporate lessened reactions, expanded patient consistence, cooperative energy and expanded adequacy and decreased cost, potential impediments incorporate unbendable settled measurements proportion, contrary pharmacokinetics, expanded harmfulness, doctor and drug specialist's obliviousness.



2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1733
Author(s):  
Venkata Krishna Munagala ◽  
Ramisetty M. Uma Mahesh ◽  
Jithendra Kandati ◽  
Munilakshmi Ponugoti

Background: WHO estimated burden of respiratory tract infections in 2010, estimates four and half million deaths due to respiratory tract infections among children every year. In India, 1.2 million deaths have been reported among children due to RTI among 5.9 million deaths globally. Lower respiratory tract infections are most common causes of death than upper respiratory tract infections. Pneumonia and Bronchiolitis are most common types of LRTI in children. Pneumonia accounts for most of the deaths in children < 5 years of age. The present study was undertaken with an objective to know the various types of lower respiratory tract infections in children less than 12 years of age. The study also aims to know the various bacterial agents causing respiratory tract infections with their antibiotic susceptibility.Methods: Hospital based, prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one year and 375 children were enrolled. Demographic, clinical history and examination was done and signs and symptoms noted. All necessary investigations were performed and followed regularly for management and outcome.Results: Incidence of LRTI in the study was 9.76% with male preponderance (65.33%) and most common among children in 1-4 years age group. Ratio of males to females was 1.9:1. 73.6% of cases were in low socio-economic group, 35.2% were found with PEM-I grade and 18.13% had no immunization coverage. Cough and breathlessness were the major symptoms and respiratory distress and clubbing were major signs in the study. Bronchopneumonia was the commonest cause (38.7%) followed by bronchiolitis and Allergic bronchitis. 18.45 of cases had anemia and Leucocytosis was also present. Pulmonary infiltration was the major finding in the X-ray of chest. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the common bacterial pathogens isolated.Conclusions: To conclude, our study clearly highlighted the various types of clinical presentations, risk factors and different types of LRTI in children <12 years of age. Understanding a clear knowledge of the etiology and bacterial pathogens clearly provides guidance for the physician in management and clinical outcome. 



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