Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses最新文献

We conducted a multicentre test-negative case–control study covering the period from October 2023 to January 2024 among adult patients aged ≥ 18 years hospitalised with severe acute respiratory infection in Europe. We provide early estimates of the effectiveness of the newly adapted XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 hospitalisation. Vaccine effectiveness was 49% overall, ranging between 69% at 14–29 days and 40% at 60–105 days post vaccination. The adapted XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines conferred protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation in the first 3.5 months post vaccination, with VE > 70% in older adults (≥ 65 years) up to 1 month post vaccination.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of acute respiratory infections in young children. Limited data are available on RSV disease burden in primary care and emergency departments (EDs). This review synthesizes the evidence on population-based incidence rates of RSV infections in young children (< 5 years) in primary care and EDs. A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed and Embase. Studies reporting yearly population-based RSV incidence rates in primary care and EDs were included. A total of 4244 records were screened and 32 studies were included, conducted between 1993 and 2019. Studies were mainly performed in high-income countries (n = 27), with 15 studies in North America and 10 studies in Europe. There was significant variability in study methodology and setting among studies, resulting in considerable variability in reported incidence rates. Incidence rates were higher in primary care—ranging from 0.8 to 330 (median = 109) per 1000 population—compared to EDs (7.5–144.0, median = 48). The highest incidence rates were reported in infants. Additionally, incidence rates were higher in high-income countries and in studies using laboratory-confirmed RSV cases compared to studies using bronchiolitis ICD-codes (non–laboratory confirmed). Our study found that a substantial number of children under 5 years of age attend primary care settings and EDs, every year for RSV infections. Due to the considerable heterogeneity in study methodology, it was impossible to draw definitive conclusions regarding factors explaining differences in reported incidence rates. Additionally, more studies in low- and middle-income countries are recommended.

I am writing in response to the article titled “Risks of alopecia areata in long COVID: Binational population-based cohort studies from South Korea and Japan” by Kyung et al., recently published in the Journal of Medical Virology [1]. The study provides robust evidence on the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the increased risk of developing alopecia areata (AA) as part of long COVID. It also highlights the significant impact of COVID-19 severity and vaccination status on AA risk.

Telogen effluvium (TE) is another type of hair loss that could be highly relevant to COVID-19 and long COVID [2]. TE and AA have overlapping clinical manifestations, but TE is not as well-known as AA by physicians. Therefore, misclassification between TE and AA is possible. TE is characterized by diffuse hair shedding often triggered by significant stress, illness, or hormonal changes [3]. Given the profound stress and physiological changes associated with COVID-19, TE is a common postinfection manifestation [4]. Furthermore, the severity of COVID-19 has been correlated with an increased risk of TE [5].

To provide a comprehensive understanding of post-COVID-19 hair loss patterns, it is advisable to present TE and AA in parallel using the existing database. This approach could yield significant insights into the prevalence of hair loss in long COVID. While the database may not confirm the accuracy of AA versus TE diagnoses, presenting results for both conditions can help clarify their respective impacts.

It is prudent to acknowledge that dermatologists have a relatively clear understanding of the differences between TE and AA. Therefore, it might be beneficial for the authors to consider limiting AA diagnoses to those confirmed by dermatologists to enhance diagnostic accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, comparing hair loss caused by other viral infections, such as influenza, which is more frequently reported to cause AA and less often reported to cause TE [6], can enhance the overall understanding of virus-associated alopecia.

In conclusion, while the study by Kyung et al. provides significant insights into the risk of AA following COVID-19, incorporating the diagnosis of TE, applying stricter criteria for diagnosing AA, and considering additional control groups in future research would offer a more holistic view of postinfection hair loss. This approach could enhance our understanding of long COVID and improve patient care strategies.

Chia-Tse Weng and Kai-Che Wei wrote the manuscript. Chao-Chun Yang substantively revised it. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

This paper examines the timing of one-time fluctuations in births subsequent to the 1918 influenza pandemic in Madras (now Chennai), India. After seasonally decomposing key demographic aggregates, we identified abrupt one-time fluctuations in excess births, deaths, and infant deaths. We found a contemporaneous spike in excess deaths and infant deaths and a 40-week lag between the spike in deaths and a subsequent deficit in births. The results suggest that India experienced the same kind of short-term postpandemic “baby bust” that was observed in the United States and other countries. Identifying the mechanisms underlying this widespread phenomenon remains an open question and an important topic for future research.