Longitudinal Analysis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children during and after COVID-19 Pandemic in China: Shifts in Seasonality and Disease Burden.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against COVID-19 globally altered RSV seasonality, yet longitudinal evidence on age-specific severity changes remains scarce in China.

Methods

In this hospital-based surveillance study, 20,305 children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) were enrolled. RSV was detected via RT-PCR across three phases: pre-pandemic (2017-2019), NPIs implementation (2020-2022), and post-NPIs (2023-2024).

Results

RSV positivity varied significantly between phases (p < 0.001), peaking at 38.85% (742/1,910) in 2021. Seasonal peaks shifted from winter (pre-pandemic) to spring (post-NPIs). The disease burden shifted toward infants aged 7-12 months (38.92%, 845/2,171 vs. 20.55%, 200/973 pre-pandemic; p < 0.001). Notably,

SUBMITTER: Gu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12696206 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature