Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTIs) in Children after COVID-19-Related Social Distancing: An Epidemiological Study in a Single Center of Southern Italy
Raffaele Falsaperla,
Vincenzo Sortino,
Daria La Cognata,
Chiara Barberi,
Giovanni Corsello,
Cristina Malaventura,
Agnese Suppiej,
Ausilia Desiree Collotta,
Agata Polizzi,
Patrizia Grassi,
Martino Ruggieri
Affiliations
Raffaele Falsaperla
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Accompaniment Unit, San Marco Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico “Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy
Vincenzo Sortino
Unit of Clinical Paediatrics, San Marco Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, “Rodolico-San Marco”, 95121 Catania, Italy
Daria La Cognata
Postgraduate Training Program in Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Chiara Barberi
Postgraduate Training Program in Pediatrics, University of Palermo, 90121 Palermo, Italy
Giovanni Corsello
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90121 Palermo, Italy
Cristina Malaventura
Medical Sciences Department, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Agnese Suppiej
Medical Sciences Department, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Ausilia Desiree Collotta
Unit of Clinical Paediatrics, San Marco Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, “Rodolico-San Marco”, 95121 Catania, Italy
Agata Polizzi
Department of Educational Science, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Patrizia Grassi
Analysis Laboratory, San Marco Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy
Martino Ruggieri
Unit of Clinical Pediatrics, AOU “Policlinico”, PO “G. Rodolico”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
In Sicily (Italy), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus (HRV), and influenza virus triggered epidemics among children, resulting in an increase in acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Our objective was to capture the epidemiology of respiratory infections in children, determining which pathogens were associated with respiratory infections following the lockdown and whether there were changes in the epidemiological landscape during the post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era. Materials and Methods: We analyzed multiplex respiratory viral PCR data (BioFire® FilmArray® Respiratory Panel 2.1 Plus) from 204 children presenting with respiratory symptoms and/or fever to our Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency. Results: Viruses were predominantly responsible for ARTIs (99%), with RSV emerging as the most common agent involved in respiratory infections, followed by human rhinovirus/enterovirus and influenza A. RSV and rhinovirus were also the primary agents in coinfections. RSV predominated during winter months, while HRV/EV exhibited greater prevalence than RSV during the fall. Some viruses spread exclusively in coinfections (human coronavirus NL63, adenovirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza viruses 1–3), while others primarily caused mono-infections (influenza A and B). SARS-CoV-2 was detected equally in both mono-infections (41%) and coinfections (59%). Conclusions: Our analysis underlines the predominance of RSV and the importance of implementing preventive strategies for RSV.
