Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Hospitalized Children Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

  • Wilawan Chaiut (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University) ;
  • Ratana Sapbamrer (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University) ;
  • Sauwaluk Dacha (Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Science, Chiang Mai University) ;
  • Tavitiya Sudjaritruk (Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University) ;
  • Ida Parwati (Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/Hasan Sadikin General Hospital) ;
  • Anton Sumarpo (Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran/Hasan Sadikin General Hospital) ;
  • Rungnapa Malasao (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University)
  • Received : 2023.01.10
  • Accepted : 2023.03.13
  • Published : 2023.05.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study compared the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of patients hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized data from all cases of laboratory-confirmed RSV infection at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. Differences in the clinical presentation of RSV infection before (2016 to 2019) and during (2020 to 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed and compared. Results: In total, 358 patients hospitalized with RSV infections were reported from January 2016 to December 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only 74 cases of hospitalized RSV infection were reported. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, the clinical presentations of RSV infection showed statistically significant decreases in fever on admission (p=0.004), productive cough (p=0.004), sputum (p=0.003), nausea (p=0.03), cyanosis (p=0.004), pallor (p<0.001), diarrhea (p<0.001), and chest pain (p<0.001). Furthermore, vigilant measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including lockdowns, also interrupted the RSV season in Thailand from 2020 to 2021. Conclusions: The incidence of RSV infection was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, which also changed the clinical presentation and seasonal pattern of RSV infection in children.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the Medical Records and Statistics Section of Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, for their important cooperation in establishing the pediatric preparedness register. The funding sources did not influence the study design, the collection or interpretation of data, the preparation or approval of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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