Perfil epidemiológico de vírus respiratórios em crianças e adolescentes em um Hospital Privado da Paraíba: 2022-2024

Abstract

Respiratory viruses are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality today. Infections caused by viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus can easily spread among the population and reach pandemic levels, tending to cause acute symptoms and, in risk groups, can cause chronic symptoms or lead to death. In view of this, epidemiological and molecular surveillance is one of the most efficient strategies for combating the distribution of agents in a given area, enabling a complex view of how the concentration and transmission may be occurring. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of children and adolescents affected by respiratory viruses and treated at a private hospital in Paraíba between 2022 and July 2024. For this, cells were collected using the nasopharyngeal swab technique from patients, followed by RNA extraction and amplification by real-time PCR for testing the viral panel of rhinovirus, influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and human metapneumovirus. A total of 658 children and adolescents participated in the research, grouped into ages >1 year, between 1 and 4 years, between 5 and 9 years, between 10 and 14 years and between 15 and 18 years. Of the patients, 274 tested positive for some virus, with ADV being the most recurrent in 2022 and RSV in 2023 and 2024. The most frequent symptoms in positive patients were cough (78%), followed by fever (72%) and dyspnea (43%). The study had as its biggest obstacle the fact that all samples came from a single hospital center. However, the epidemiological data presented here are fundamental to understanding local viral dynamics and are essential for the development of future interventions and public health policies.