Does co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 increase severity of bronchiolitis?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do children with bronchiolitis have greater disease severity when they are co-infected with SARS-CoV-2? A retrospective observational study.
IRAS ID
311044
Contact name
David Cain
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 16 days
Research summary
Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalisation in children under 1 year of age.
It is a clinical diagnosis. Historically the majority of infections are attributed to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and respiratory viral polymerase chain reaction testing (PCR) was not always undertaken.
Following the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, national guidance has changed to recommended all children admitted to hospital undergo respiratory viral PCR testing for COVID19 alongside other respiratory pathogens, as routine practice.
This has opened up a new opportunity to review the results of these tests, and correlate this with the progress of those children admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis… does co-infection with COVID-19 increase the severity of bronchiolitis? Are the majority of infections purely RSV, or is there in increase of co-infection with COVID-19 or another respiratory pathogen such as rhinovirus?
Ultimately, does testing these children provide any beneficial information regarding their individual prognosis?REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0265
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion