5: Trends in Seasonal Prevalence of Respiratory Pathogens Among Children in the United Arab Emirates: A Multi-Center Study

• Published in: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Vol. 10; no. Supplement_2; p. S17
• Main Authors: Salim, Sara, Celiloglu, Handan, Tayyab, Farah, Malik, Zainab A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.06.2021
• ISSN: 2048-7207; 2048-7207
• DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piab031.037

Abstract Background Pediatric respiratory infections cause a high disease burden globally. Their seasonality and molecular epidemiology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are not well understood. This data is important for clinical practice, to monitor disease outbreaks and optimize vaccination for influenza and RSV prophylaxis in high risk infants and children. Our objective was to describe the seasonality and molecular epidemiology of respiratory pathogens during a full calendar year among children in Dubai, UAE. Methods Children 0–18 years of age who presented to multiple hospitals and clinics within a large private healthcare group in Dubai between January 1st and December 31st, 2019, and had upper respiratory samples positive for any pathogen on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) were included in this retrospective analysis. Sociodemographic, clinical, and molecular data were collected. Results Two thousand four hundred and twenty-seven children had mPCR sample positive for at least one pathogen. The median age of our population was 39 months, and 56.8% were male. Emergency room was the most common site (32.3%) of sample collection and the vast majority presented with fever (85.7%). Rhinovirus/enterovirus was the most common infection (45%) and peaked in September; followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (17.1%) which peaked in October; and adenovirus (15.6%) which peaked in June. The latter accounted for 43% of hospitalizations in our study (p<0.05). Viral co-infections, most commonly human rhinovirus/enterovirus and RSV, were seen in 22.1% of children. Other infections occurred in 34.1% of children comprising mainly of streptococcal pharyngitis. Conclusions RSV is a common viral pathogen in the UAE, and the RSV season begins earlier than reported in other countries regionally. RSV prophylaxis in high risk infants should be considered in August to provide maximal protection. Adeno – Adenovirus; Corona – Coronavirus; hMPV – Human Metapneumovirus; Influ A – Influenza A; Influ B – Influenza B; Rhino/Entero – Human rhinovirus/Enterovirus; Para – Parainfluenza virus; RSV – Respiratory Syncytial Virus; Mycoplasma – Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Bordatella para – Bordatella parapertussis; Bordatella Per – Bordatella pertussis; Chlamydia – Chlamydia pneumoniae.