Epidemic patterns and the immunity levels in hospitalized patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection in 2019-2023

Linyan Tang; Lanlan Ma; Yan Liang; Xing Chen

doi:10.3855/jidc.19729

Epidemic patterns and the immunity levels in hospitalized patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection in 2019-2023

Authors

Linyan Tang School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4443-261X
Lanlan Ma School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
Yan Liang Department of Pediatrics Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children’s Health and Disease office, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
Xing Chen Department of Pediatrics Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children’s Health and Disease office, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1424-8165

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.19729

Keywords:

COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, epidemiology, non-pharmaceutical interventions, immune debt

Abstract

Introduction: The epidemic pattern of the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyze the epidemic pattern of RSV infection and explore the fluctuations of immunity.

Methodology: Pediatric inpatients diagnosed with RSV infection or RSV pneumonia from January 2019 to August 2023 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively included. The children were divided into three groups: before the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) group, during the implementation of NPIs group, and after the lifted NPIs group.

Results: A total of 462 children were included in this study. During the implementation of NPIs, there were almost no RSV hospitalizations from February to October 2020. In May 2023, the number of children infected with RSV increased dramatically. The RSV infected children in after the lifted NPIs group was mainly ≥ 3 years old. RSV mixed infections (56.93%) were slightly more common than RSV single infection (43.07%). The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and CD3+%, CD8+% during the implementation of NPIs and after the lifted NPIs groups were lower than those in the other group of infants 0-6 months old, and the levels of CD3+ % and CD3 + CD4+ % in children 7-12 months old were found to be similar.

Conclusions: After the lifted NPIs, the RSV epidemic season was delayed to spring and summer. Humoral immunity and part of the cellular immunity in infants varies before and after NPIs. We pay close attention to the surveillance data of RSV to prevent RSV infection.

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Published

2025-02-28

How to Cite

Tang L, Ma L, Liang Y, Chen X (2025) Epidemic patterns and the immunity levels in hospitalized patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection in 2019-2023. J Infect Dev Ctries 19:289–297. doi: 10.3855/jidc.19729

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 02: February 2025

Section

Original Articles

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