Clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with bronchiolitis before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-center study
- Amina Saračević
(General Hospital Tešanj, Braće Pobrića 17, Tešanj 74 260 , Pediatric Department , General Hospital Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Amela Pašić (University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonology and Cardiology, Clinic for Children Disease, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Nijaz Tihić (University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Faculty of Medicine, Tuzla, Department of Microbiology, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Azra Lukavačkić (University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Department of Pulmonology and Cardiology, Clinic for Children Disease, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Amila Huremović (University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Department of Surgery, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Džana Kavazović (General Hospital Tešanj, Tešanj , Pediatric Department, General Hospital Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Aim: Acute 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.
Methods: This 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
Keywords: anti-bacterial agents, coinfection, oxygen inhalation therapy, respiratory syncytial virus infections, vaccination
How to Cite:
Saračević, A., Pašić, A., Tihić, N., Lukavačkić, A., Huremović, A. & Kavazović, D., (2025) “Clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with bronchiolitis before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-center study”, Medicinski glasnik 22(2), 278-282. doi: https://doi.org/10.17392/1996-22-02
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