Viruses responsible for acute respiratory infections before (2016–2019) and during (2021) circulation of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus in pediatric patients in a reference center at Barranquilla Colombia: A pattern analysis

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 95; no. 1; pp. e28439 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zarur‐Torralvo, Shiara, Stand‐Niño, Iván, Flórez‐García, Victor, Mendoza, Humberto, Viana‐Cárdenas, Erika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2023
• Subjects: acute respiratory infection; Age; Age groups; Antibiotics; Antiviral agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Colombia - epidemiology; Cough; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Diarrhea; epidemiological surveillance; Etiology; Female; Humans; Infant; Infections; Influenza, Human; Male; pandemic; Pattern analysis; Pediatrics; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Respiratory tract infection; Respiratory Tract Infections; SARS ‐CoV‐2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Surveillance; Viral diseases; Viral infections; viral isolation; Virology; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Viruses; Colombia; epidemiological surveillance; viral isolation; acute respiratory infection; pandemic; SARS -CoV-2
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28439

Objective To evaluate the behavior of the viruses responsible for acute respiratory infections before (2016–2019) and after (2020–2021) the start of the circulation of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus in pediatric patients treated at a reference center from Barranquilla, Colombia. Materials and Methods A descriptive observational study was carried out, and data were obtained by reviewing the influenza‐like illness and severe acute respiratory infection database in the pediatric population of the sentinel surveillance reference center in the district of Barranquilla during the years 2016–2021, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results During 2016–2019, the average age of individuals was 1.3 (±1.7) years, during 2021, it was 2.3 (±3.5) years. The distribution by sex was similar, predominantly male. August and February were the months with the highest record of symptoms for 2016–2019 and 2021, respectively, the most frequent being cough, fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. By 2021 there was a higher use of antibiotics and antivirals reported than in 2016–2019. Most patients tested negative for viral detection. When comparing the percentage of viruses detected by age group and years of detection, positivity was lower in 2021 by every age group, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most frequently detected. Conclusions There was less virus positivity in viral detection tests in the pediatric population in 2021. RSV persists as the main etiology affecting this population, especially infants. The use of antibiotic therapy in viral infections continues to be a problematic practice in their management. Sentinel surveillance can be strengthened throughout the country.