Bronchiolitis and SARS-CoV-2.

Authors :: Milani GP
Bollati V
Ruggiero L
Bosis S
Pinzani RM
Lunghi G
Rota F
Dioni L
Luganini A
Agostoni C
Marchisio P
Source :: Archives of disease in childhood [Arch Dis Child] 2021 Oct; Vol. 106 (10), pp. 999-1001. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 11.
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Background: It has been speculated that the SARS-CoV-2 was already widespread in western countries before February 2020. Methods: We gauged this hypothesis by analysing the nasal swab of infants with either bronchiolitis or a non-infectious disease admitted to the Ospedale Maggiore, Milan (one of the first epicentres of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Europe) from November 2019. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was never detected in 218 infants with bronchiolitis (95 females, median age 4.9 months) and 49 infants (22 females, median age 5.6 months) with a non-infectious disease between November 2019 and February 2020. On the contrary, two infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis between March and April 2020 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: This study does not support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 was already circulating among infants before the official outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it shows for the first time that SARS-CoV-2 might cause bronchiolitis requiring hospitalisation. Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)