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

doi:10.3390/pathogens11121542

. 2022 Dec 15;11(12):1542.

doi: 10.3390/pathogens11121542.

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

Asmae Lamrani Hanchi¹, Morad Guennouni², Toufik Ben Houmich¹, Mohamed Echchakery², Ghizlane Draiss³, Noureddine Rada³, Said Younous⁴, Mohamed Bouskraoui³, Nabila Soraa¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Microbiology, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.
² Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technologies, Higher Institute of Health Sciences of Settat, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, Morocco.
³ Pediatric Department, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.
⁴ Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.

PMID: 36558876
PMCID: PMC9781834
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121542

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

Asmae Lamrani Hanchi et al. Pathogens. 2022.

. 2022 Dec 15;11(12):1542.

doi: 10.3390/pathogens11121542.

Authors

Asmae Lamrani Hanchi¹, Morad Guennouni², Toufik Ben Houmich¹, Mohamed Echchakery², Ghizlane Draiss³, Noureddine Rada³, Said Younous⁴, Mohamed Bouskraoui³, Nabila Soraa¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Microbiology, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.
² Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technologies, Higher Institute of Health Sciences of Settat, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, Morocco.
³ Pediatric Department, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.
⁴ Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40030, Morocco.

PMID: 36558876
PMCID: PMC9781834
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121542

Abstract

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARI; children; film array® respiratory panel; mPCR; respiratory pathogens.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Monthly distribution of RSV (a), INFLUENZA A (b), HRV (c), Bp (d).

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References

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[1] Zhao Y., Lu R., Shen J., Xie Z., Liu G., Tan W. Comparison of viral and epidemiological profiles of hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory infection in Beijing and Shanghai, China. BMC Infect. Dis. 2019;19:729. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4385-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Zhao Y., Lu R., Shen J., Xie Z., Liu G., Tan W. Comparison of viral and epidemiological profiles of hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory infection in Beijing and Shanghai, China. BMC Infect. Dis. 2019;19:729. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4385-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Bryce J., Boschi-Pinto C., Shibuya K., Black R.E., WHO Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group WHO estimates of the causes of death in children. Lancet. 2005;365:1147–1152. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71877-8. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Bryce J., Boschi-Pinto C., Shibuya K., Black R.E., WHO Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group WHO estimates of the causes of death in children. Lancet. 2005;365:1147–1152. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71877-8. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Shi T., McLean K., Campbell H., Nair H. Aetiological role of common respiratory viruses in acute lower respiratory infections in children under five years: A systematic review and meta–analysis. J. Glob. Health. 2015;5:010408. doi: 10.7189/jogh.05.010408. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Shi T., McLean K., Campbell H., Nair H. Aetiological role of common respiratory viruses in acute lower respiratory infections in children under five years: A systematic review and meta–analysis. J. Glob. Health. 2015;5:010408. doi: 10.7189/jogh.05.010408. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Hanchi A.L., Guennouni M., Rachidi M., Benhoumich T., Bennani H., Bourrous M., Maoulainine F.M.R., Younous S., Bouskraoui M., Soraa N. Epidemiology of Respiratory Pathogens in Children with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Impact of the Multiplex PCR Film Array Respiratory Panel: A 2-Year Study. Int. J. Microbiol. 2021;2021:1-9. doi: 10.1155/2021/2276261. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Hanchi A.L., Guennouni M., Rachidi M., Benhoumich T., Bennani H., Bourrous M., Maoulainine F.M.R., Younous S., Bouskraoui M., Soraa N. Epidemiology of Respiratory Pathogens in Children with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Impact of the Multiplex PCR Film Array Respiratory Panel: A 2-Year Study. Int. J. Microbiol. 2021;2021:1-9. doi: 10.1155/2021/2276261. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Horton K.C., Dueger E.L., Kandeel A., Abdallat M., El Kholy A., Al-Awaidy S., Kohlani A.H., Amer H., El-Khal A.L., Said M., et al. Viral etiology, seasonality and severity of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2007–2014. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0180954. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180954. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Horton K.C., Dueger E.L., Kandeel A., Abdallat M., El Kholy A., Al-Awaidy S., Kohlani A.H., Amer H., El-Khal A.L., Said M., et al. Viral etiology, seasonality and severity of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2007–2014. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0180954. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180954. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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References

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