Very Low Incidence of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza and RSV but High Incidence of Rhino-, Adeno- and Endemic Coronaviruses in Children With Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care Pediatric Practices During the Second and Third Wave of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Géraldine Engels, Johanna Sack, Benedikt Weißbrich, Katrin Hartmann, Kerstin Knies, Christoph Härtel, Andrea Streng, Lars Dölken, Johannes G. Liese, for the CoPraKid Study Group
Abstract
Respiratory viruses were detected by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction from oropharyngeal swabs in 114/168 (67.9%) children with acute respiratory infection presenting to 5 pediatric practices in Germany between November 2020 and April 2021. In contrast to rhino- (48.8%), adeno- (14.3%) and endemic coronaviruses (14.9%), SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus were detected only once; respiratory syncytial virus was not detected. This demonstrates differing impacts of pandemic infection control measures on the spread of respiratory viruses.
Topics & Concepts
Incidence (geometry)Respiratory systemVirologyMedicinePandemicVirusInfluenza A virusRespiratory infectionPediatricsCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Internal medicineDiseasePhysicsOpticsInfectious disease (medical specialty)Respiratory viral infections researchSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology