tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Infect Dis
. 2025 Nov 19;25(1):1617.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-12051-6. Shifting trends in influenza and rising HBoV cases: a comparative analysis over 3-winter seasons
Meltem Cetin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Caner Turan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ceren Yurumez[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ali Yurtseven[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Candan Cicek[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Eylem Ulas Saz[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in pediatric populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant shifts in the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, particularly influenza viruses and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1). This study aims to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence of HBoV1 and its clinical implications in pediatric ARTIs.
Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED) over three consecutive winter seasons: the pre-pandemic period (2017-2019) and the post-pandemic period (2022-2024). Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify respiratory viruses. Clinical and demographic characteristics, hospitalization rates, disease severity, and outcomes were systematically evaluated.
Results: Among 541 children (median age: 14 months), respiratory viruses were identified in 53.9%. The prevalence of HBoV1 increased significantly in the post-pandemic period (9.5% vs. 20.8%)(p < 0.001), whereas influenza A/B infections declined (p < 0.001). Co-infections decreased (13.4% to 5.3%), though HBoV1 was strongly linked to co-infections (p = 0.001). Severe illness was significantly associated with co-infections (aOR: 7.3, 95% CI: 3.9-14.2, p < 0.001) and age ≤ 1 year (aOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2-5.1, p = 0.008).
Conclusion: The post-pandemic period is characterized by an increased prevalence of HBoV1 and a decline in influenza A/B infections. While HBoV1 alone does not appear to contribute to severe disease, co-infections, particularly with RSV, significantly increase morbidity. These findings highlight the need for continued viral surveillance and tailored clinical management strategies to address shifting epidemiological patterns in pediatric ARTIs.
Clinical trial: Not applicable.
Keywords: Co-infection; HBoV1; Influenza; Post-pandemic trends; RSV; Respiratory infections.
. 2025 Nov 19;25(1):1617.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-12051-6. Shifting trends in influenza and rising HBoV cases: a comparative analysis over 3-winter seasons
Meltem Cetin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Caner Turan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ceren Yurumez[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ali Yurtseven[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Candan Cicek[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Eylem Ulas Saz[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41257617
- PMCID: PMC12628584
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-025-12051-6
Background: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in pediatric populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant shifts in the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, particularly influenza viruses and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1). This study aims to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence of HBoV1 and its clinical implications in pediatric ARTIs.
Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED) over three consecutive winter seasons: the pre-pandemic period (2017-2019) and the post-pandemic period (2022-2024). Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify respiratory viruses. Clinical and demographic characteristics, hospitalization rates, disease severity, and outcomes were systematically evaluated.
Results: Among 541 children (median age: 14 months), respiratory viruses were identified in 53.9%. The prevalence of HBoV1 increased significantly in the post-pandemic period (9.5% vs. 20.8%)(p < 0.001), whereas influenza A/B infections declined (p < 0.001). Co-infections decreased (13.4% to 5.3%), though HBoV1 was strongly linked to co-infections (p = 0.001). Severe illness was significantly associated with co-infections (aOR: 7.3, 95% CI: 3.9-14.2, p < 0.001) and age ≤ 1 year (aOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2-5.1, p = 0.008).
Conclusion: The post-pandemic period is characterized by an increased prevalence of HBoV1 and a decline in influenza A/B infections. While HBoV1 alone does not appear to contribute to severe disease, co-infections, particularly with RSV, significantly increase morbidity. These findings highlight the need for continued viral surveillance and tailored clinical management strategies to address shifting epidemiological patterns in pediatric ARTIs.
Clinical trial: Not applicable.
Keywords: Co-infection; HBoV1; Influenza; Post-pandemic trends; RSV; Respiratory infections.