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Published on: December 10, 2013
Epidemiological characteristics of four common respiratory viral infections in children
Guohong Zhu1, Dan Xu2, Yuanyuan Zhang1
1Department of Pulmonology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, 3333, Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Insights
Viral infections are common in children, with a 37.2% detection rate. Adenovirus, influenza, and RSV prevalence varies by age and season, peaking in winter.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Viruses are primary causes of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children.
- Understanding viral pathogen epidemiology in pediatric ARIs is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of viral pathogens causing ARIs in outpatient children.
- To analyze the age- and season-specific prevalence of common respiratory viruses.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of viral detection results from 103,210 outpatient children with ARIs (April 2018-March 2019).
- Oral pharyngeal swabs were tested for adenovirus (ADV), influenza A (FLUA), influenza B (FLUB), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using the colloidal gold method.
Main Results:
- A viral pathogen was detected in 37.2% of cases (38,355/103,210).
- Mixed infections (≥2 viruses) occurred in 1.9% of cases (1910).
- Prevalence varied by age: ADV highest in 3-6 years (18.7%), FLUA/FLUB in >6 years (21.6%/6.6%), RSV in <1 year (10.6%).
- Viral infection rates differed significantly across age groups (P<0.001) and seasons (P<0.001).
- Overall positivity was highest in winter (47.1%), with FLUA/FLUB peaking in winter (28.8%/3.6%), ADV in spring (18.2%), and RSV in autumn (17.4%).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric viral ARI rates are significantly influenced by age and season.
- Adenovirus is most common in preschoolers, RSV in infants, and influenza increases with age.
- Winter is the peak season for overall viral infections and influenza in children.
Background:
Viruses are the main infectious agents of acute respiratory infections in children. We aim to describe the epidemiological characteristics of viral pathogens of acute respiratory tract infections in outpatient children.
Methods:
From April 2018 to March 2019, the results of viral detection using oral pharyngeal swabs from 103,210 children with acute respiratory tract infection in the outpatient department of the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. Viral antigens, including adenovirus (ADV), influenza A (FLUA), influenza B (FLUB) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), were detected by the colloidal gold method.
Results:
At least one virus was detected in 38,355 cases; the positivity rate was 37.2%. A total of 1910 cases of mixed infection with two or more viruses were detected, and the positivity rate of multiple infection was 1.9%. The ADV positivity rate was highest in the 3-6-year-old group (18.7%), the FLUA positivity rate was highest in the > 6-year-old group (21.6%), the FLUB positivity rate was highest in the > 6-year-old group (6.6%), and the RSV positivity rate was highest in the < 1-year-old group (10.6%). There was a significant difference in the positivity rate of viral infection among different age groups (χ2 = 1280.7, P < 0.001). The rate of positive viral infection was highest in winter (47.1%). The ADV infection rate was highest in spring (18.2%). The rates of FLUA and FLUB positivity were highest in winter (28.8% and 3.6%, respectively). The rate of RSV positivity was highest in autumn (17.4%). The rate of positive viral infection in different seasons was significantly different (χ2 = 6459.1, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Viral infection rates in children differ for different ages and seasons. The positivity rate of ADV is highest in the preschool period and that of RSV is highest in infants; that of FLU increases with age. The total positive rate of viral infection in different seasons is highest in winter, as is the rate of FLU positivity.
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