ERS Respiratory Channel

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Abstract

Introduction.Bronchiolitis is a viral infection affecting children. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South African government implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) to prevent the rise of COVID-19. It led to a decline in hospital admissions for acute exacerbations of asthma and viral infections and suppressed the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season during 2020-2021. However, 2022 has seen an increase in the number of children with bronchiolitis including more severe disease requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions and ventilation.

Objectives. To identify if the season post the 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, showed an increase in hospital admissions of children with bronchiolitis. Was there more severe disease, with a specific age group affected?

Methods. We analyzed routine data on paediatric RSV-related admissions to the ward and ICU between February 2020 to June 2022

Results. RSV-related admissions increased over this period. Patients were mainly females, requiring ICU admissions and presenting with ARDS with longer stays in ICU and highest mode of ventilation. Children in 2022, were mostly less than 1 year and bronchioliits was still mainly caused by RSV.

Conclusion.NPI measure prevented other virusses from being spread. In 2021, the RSV-season was delayed to November, possibly due to lockdown measures. 2022, saw an increase in numbers of patients being admitted to the hospital, and a greater number of admissions to ICU, with more severe disease, requiring longer stays in ICU, and higher mode of ventilation. Females were more prone to severe disease than males, and children less than one year presenting more commonly.

Abstract

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