The high circulation of these viruses has caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), especially among children up to 2 years old
Last Thursday 2nd the Infogripe bulletin was released Fiocruz revealed a significant increase in the number of cases and deaths due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) across Brazil. According to the institution, the current scenario is a consequence of the increase in the spread of influenza (the influenza virus) and, most importantly, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), both of which can cause serious lung complications.
The investigation, carried out on the basis of data from epidemiological week 17, which covers the period from 21 to 27 April, highlights that the intensification of the circulation of RSV has led to a significant increase in the incidence and mortality of SARS in children up to 2 years of age, exceeding the numbers associated with Covid-19 in this age group. Despite this, the corona virus it remains a major cause of infection in young children, along with rhinovirus.
Again according to the bulletin, although Covid-19 appears to show a decline or stability at low levels, it is also the main cause of mortality from SARS among the elderly, who represent the majority of deaths due to severe respiratory syndrome, characterized by inflammation and accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
In the last four epidemiological weeks, 58% of severe respiratory syndrome cases were attributed to RSV, while 24.3%, 7.9% and 0.4% were associated with influenza A, covid-19 and influenza respectively B.
Regarding deaths, 46.4% were related to covid-19, 38% to influenza A, 11.6% to respiratory syncytial virus and 1.1% to influenza B, which shows that although RSV has contributed to the increase in the number of cases and deaths, the coronavirus continues to be a major virus associated with mortality, despite apparent decline or stability.
According to Fiocruz, 22 federative units show an increase in SARS cases in the long-term trend: Alagoas, Amazonas, Amapá, Ceará, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná , Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, Sergipe, Sao Paulo and Tocantins.
The RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute respiratory infections in children up to 2 years of age. It is responsible for most cases of bronchiolitis (75%) and almost half of pneumonias (40%) in this age group, according to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP).
This is a very common virus in young children. It is estimated that out of ten children, four to six contract RSV in the first year of life and almost 100% by age two.
Another characteristic of the RSV is its seasonality: it circulates mainly in autumn and winter, especially in the months of May and April. In recent years, however, this cycle has been atypical. During the pandemic, due to social isolation, it circulated less. But it now appears to have picked up its pace, which helps explain the rise in infections.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
