The Rate of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Patients with Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Objective: This study investigates the rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in patients who presented to the emergency department with symptoms of upper and lower respiratory tract infections during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted on patients admitted to the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Clinic of Emergency with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection between 15.03.2021 and 15.05.2021. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were studied using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on nasopharyngeal swab samples taken from these patients. The research was conducted as a prospective, descriptive case study. Patient selection was determined by physicians working in green area polyclinics. The samples are taken in the “COVID-19 PCR sample collection area of our hospital”. Two nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from all patients.
Results: A total of 359 patients participated in this study. Of these patients, 51% were men and 49% were women. The age range of these patients ranged from 17 to 70, with a mean age of 36.2. Three hundred forty nine of these patients followed up as outpatients. Of the patients,71.3% included in our study had no history of comorbid disease. SARS-CoV-2 was positive in 94 of the patients participating in our study. Cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and fever were found to be significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 patients, however nasal discharge was significantly higher in the group with patients had not SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusion: Measures taken against the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic period also reduced the incidence of other respiratory viruses. Historical declines have been found in the influenza and RSV ranks. When the restrictions are lifted, epidemics from other respiratory viruses are also expected. Surveillance studies of these viruses should be closely followed and should be prepared for new outbreaks.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, multiplex, RT-PCR