Demographic and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus-1 infection in patients with acute respiratory tract infections during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central Province of Sri Lanka

Changes in Respiratory Viruses' Activity in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on health was significant worldwide. The measures adopted to limit the spread of the virus had an indirect effect on the epidemiology of other infectious diseases with similar mechanisms of inter-human transmission. The present literature review analyzed the scenario of pediatric acute respiratory infections in the post-lockdown period compared to the pre-pandemic and lockdown periods. The different patterns of viruses' outbreaks were evaluated according to the type of local COVID-19 restrictive measures and to the type of pathogen. Methods: Relevant scientific literature published between March 2020 and November 2024 was identified by means of electronic keyword searches in the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Results: Worldwide implementation of non-pharmacological public health interventions aimed at limiting the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a measurable effect on the circulation of other common respiratory viruses, significantly affecting their usual seasonality. Most viruses significantly reduced their activity during the lockdown period but returned to or exceeded historical levels after discontinuation of preventive non-pharmacological measures. For many respiratory viruses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, an off-season increase was reported. Conclusions: The non-pharmacological interventions, which effectively helped limit the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in relevant epidemiologic changes in most common respiratory viruses. Given the different seasonality and clinical severity observed for some pathogens after lockdown, possible future off-season or more severe epidemics should be expected.

Uncovering the Presentation and Diagnosis of Human Bocavirus in a Patient at a Tertiary Care Center: A Case Report

A toddler, thriving well, developmentally normal, and fully immunized, presented with fever, cough, and cold for a day, followed by breathing difficulty. Although the child was not ill upon admission, he had a fever and was breathing rapidly. On examination, visible sub-costal retractions and wheezing in both lungs were noted. He required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) management for a brief period, with oxygen supplementation, round-the-clock nebulization, and other supportive care. Initially, he was diagnosed with a wheeze-associated lower respiratory tract infection, as his chest X-ray showed bilateral hyperinflated lung fields. Blood investigations revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia, and his renal function tests, electrolytes, and liver function tests were within normal limits. C-reactive protein (CRP) was positive at 15.1 mg/L (≥10 mg/L considered positive), and the blood culture was sterile. A nasopharyngeal swab on day 2 of admission tested positive for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of Human Bocavirus (HBoV). Gradually, the child's condition improved, and he was able to be taken off oxygen support two days after admission. Upon discharge, the child was managed symptomatically with oral medications.

Human bocavirus in Saudi Arabia: Molecular epidemiology and Co-infections among children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2014-2016

Respiratory tract infections due to a variety of viruses continue to threaten the human population worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Among the responsible viruses, Human Bocavirus (HBoV), a novel discovered virus, causes respiratory tract and gastroenteritis disorders in young children. In Saudi Arabia, data regarding virus molecular epidemiology and evolution and its implication in respiratory tract infection are scarce. In the current study, genetic diversity and circulation pattern of HBoV-1 among hospitalized children due to acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) during two consecutive years were charted. We found that 3.44% (2014/2015) and 11.25% (2015/2016) of children hospitalized due to ARTI were infected by HBoV-1. We have shown that HBoV was detected year-round without a marked seasonal peak. HBoV-1 also was co-detected with one or multiple other respiratory viruses. The multisequence analysis showed high sequence identity (∼99%) (few point mutation sites) between strains of each genotype and high sequence variation (∼79%) between HBoV-1 and the other 3 genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed the clustering of the study's isolates in the HBoV-1 subclade. Our data reveal that genetically conserved HBoV-1 was circulating among admitted children during the course of the study. Further epidemiological and molecular characterization of multiple HBoV-1 strains for different years and from all regions of Saudi Arabia are required to understand and monitor the virus evolution.