,
Pediatric Department , General Hospital Tešanj, General Hospital Tešanj , Braće Pobrića 17, Tešanj 74 260 , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Department of Pulmonology and Cardiology, Clinic for Children Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center Tuzla , Tuzla , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Department of Microbiology, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Faculty of Medicine, Tuzla, University Clinical Center Tuzla , Tuzla , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Department of Pulmonology and Cardiology, Clinic for Children Disease, University Clinical Center Tuzla , Tuzla , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Department of Surgery, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, University Clinical Center Tuzla , Tuzla , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pediatric Department, General Hospital Tešanj, General Hospital Tešanj , Tešanj , Bosnia and Herzegovina
ABSTRACT
AimAcute respiratory infections caused by viral pathogens are the most common reason for hospitalization of children. Annually, 150 million infants worldwide are diagnosed with bronchiolitis, and 2-3% of them are hospitalized. This study aimed to compare bronchiolitis severity before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology, Paediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre University of Tuzla, covering the period from November 1st, 2018, to April th 30, 2019 (pre-COVID period) and November 1st, 2023, to April 30th, 2024 (post-COVID period). A total 129 children under the age of 2 years were involved.
Results No significant differences in the age, body mass, comorbidities, duration of hospitalization, use of oxygen therapy, and mechanical ventilation was found. There was a significant reduction in antibiotic in the post-COVID group (p=0.0173), and a significant increase in the use of aminophylline and inhalation therapy drugs in the post-COVID group. There was a significantly higher number of isolated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in the post-COVID group, 32 (42.7%). prevalence of fully vaccinated children was significantly higher in the pre-COVID period compared to the post-COVID period, 34 (74.4%?) and 29 (45.3%), respectively.
Conclusion This study reveals a significant increase in the severity of bronchiolitis and an increase in RSV cases after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: anti-bacterial agents,coinfection, oxygen inhalation therapy,respiratory syncytial virus infections, vaccination
Investigation, A.S. and N.T.; Methodology, A.S.; Writing – original draft, A.S.; Writing – review & editing, A.S. and A.L.; Conceptualization, A.P.; Project administration, A.P.; Supervision, A.P.; Funding acquisition, N.T. and D.K.; Software, A.H. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
No specific funding was received for this study.
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