Medical Student University of Central Florida College of Medicine Orlando, Florida, United States
Background: Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic curbed the transmission of respiratory viruses that cause bronchiolitis (Rivera-Sepulveda 2021, Chuang 2023). Still, little is known about whether COVID-19 is here to stay, by forming part of the seasonal pattern of respiratory viruses, along with the ebbs and flows of seasonal outbreaks associated with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. RSV is the most common virus that causes bronchiolitis and is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization. Influenza is another virus that can cause significant complications and comorbidities in children less than 2 years of age, but this is dependent on the strain or seasonal flu immunization status. However, given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on infection mitigation, and transmission precautions many young children have not been exposed to these viruses, creating the potential for a perfect storm in which these three viruses converge, generating a triple-demic that may have devastating consequences on children’s health, and the medical healthcare system. The description of changes associated with bronchiolitis characteristics is vital as we prepare our medical healthcare system, medical providers, and families to care for children with bronchiolitis in this new epidemiological paradigm. Objective: To compare demographic characteristics, clinical features, and outcomes of children with bronchiolitis who visited the pediatric emergency department during the post-pandemic 2022 and 2023 respiratory season. Design/Methods: We will perform a retrospective, cross-sectional study of children with bronchiolitis aged one to 24 months during an ED visit in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2022/ 2023 (post-pandemic). Variables include demographics, emergency severity index (ESI), diagnostic studies, therapeutics, respiratory support, disposition, and return to the ED. Chi-square or Kruskal-Wallis will be used to compare groups. The gamma coefficient will also be used to measure the association of variables through time.
