Morbidity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections: RSV Compared With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections in Children Aged 0-4 Years in Cologne, Germany

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to provide information on how infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) differ in symptoms, clinical course, outcome, and utilization of hospital care. We investigated 748 polymerase chain reaction results from symptomatic children aged 0-4 years in Cologne, Germany. One hundred sixty-nine patients tested positive for RSV (22.6%) and 24 children for SARS-CoV-2 (3.2%). Symptomatic patients with RSV infection were hospitalized significantly longer. RSV-positive patients needed oxygen supplementation significantly more often as well as high-flow therapy. With regard to care efforts, RSV-infected patients put higher pressure on the hospital and utilized more hospital resources. Symptomatic children (aged 0-4 years) with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were hospitalized significantly longer than children infected with SARS-CoV-2. With regard to care efforts, RSV-infected patients put higher pressure on the hospital and utilized more hospital resources.

Automated summary

This retrospective analysis compares the symptoms, clinical course, outcome, and utilization of hospital care between children infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The study found that symptomatic children with RSV infection were hospitalized significantly longer than those infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, RSV-infected patients put higher pressure on the hospital and utilized more hospital resources.