“The proportions of patients with RSV that required hospitalization, intensive care, or mechanical ventilation declined significantly across all patient age groups.” This would happen if RSV declined in severity in 2021-2023 or detection increased.
“The proportions of patients with RSV that required hospitalization, intensive care, or mechanical ventilation declined significantly across all patient age groups.” This would happen if RSV declined in severity in 2021-2023 or detection increased.
Did RSV become less severe in 2021-2023? Proportionally much less severe illness. RSV patients increased 2.4-fold BUT testing also increased by 18.9-fold. Neither influenza volume nor testing increased much. Seems we already tested robustly for influenza & we added RSV.
Reminds us that ascertainment methods are crucial to detecting causality. If the rate or criteria for testing changes, things will look different. If only patients that interact with a hospital system are tested, things will look very different than population level.
Reminder that kids under five are positive for one respiratory virus or another for about half the year. As most parents can attest, it gets way better as their immune system matures. Vaccines are great for immunity without infection risks — even if low, why not even lower?
Reminder that kids under five are positive for one respiratory virus or another for about half the year. As most parents can attest, it gets way better as their immune system matures. Vaccines are great for immunity without infection risks — even if low, why not even lower?
I think pediatricians should give this chart to parents whose kids are about to start preschool or school! 🤧🤒🫠 The first years see spike in infections and then it goes way down as immunity matures. Clear pattern with influenza as well. (More studied as more dangerous.)