An Insight Into The Distribution Of COVID-19 & RSV In Paediatric Patients At GNCH September 2020 To February 2023

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was a widely disruptive illness and affected children of all ages and background. The implementation of national lockdowns in the UK reduced the spread of COVID-19 but may have also affected exposure of most respiratory illness, including RSV. In a single centre retrospective study, we analysed anonymised data from paediatric patients attending the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle. The implementation of national restrictions showed a reduction in both COVID-19 and RSV infections. Upon easing of restrictions, RSV infections showed a much more dramatic rise than COVID-19. Upon easing of restrictions, RSV infections showed a much more dramatic rise than COVID-19 and the peak time of infection was seen in August 2021, much later than the normal winter peak seen. A higher median age of RSV infection (1-2 years) than previous years was shown. COVID infections demonstrated an expected rise following easing of national restrictions in July 2021. However, infection rates were much slower to reduce, possibly due to a smaller reservoir of natural immunity and showed further expected peaks in the winter months of 2021. Furthermore, COVID-19 infections continued to gradually decrease from January 2022.   Overall, this data set shows the variability shown in the timing of RSV infections as a subsequent result of COVID-19 infections and national lockdown restrictions. It also highlights the changes in age groups effected by RSV and COVID-19 and the possible interaction these viral interactions may have had in children at this time.