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Epidemiological Characteristics of Upper Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Children in Guangdong, China
Qianwen Zhao1, Peifeng Ke2,3, Liangshan Hu4
1Division of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Insights
This study identified common respiratory viruses in children, finding Human Rhinovirus (HRV) most prevalent. Younger children and hospitalized patients had higher infection rates, highlighting the need for targeted testing and surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Respiratory virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Limited research exists on the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in pediatric populations.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for preventing respiratory tract infections in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of 11 respiratory viruses in febrile children.
- To analyze pathogen spectrum variations based on age, hospitalization status, and seasonality.
Main Methods:
- Collected 1788 upper respiratory tract swabs from symptomatic children (fever >38.5°C) across five Guangdong hospitals (Nov 2020 - June 2022).
- Utilized multiplex probe amplification (MPA) PCR for pathogen identification.
- Analyzed prevalence, coinfection rates, and epidemiological trends.
Main Results:
- Overall pathogen detection rate was 58.1%.
- Human rhinovirus (HRV) was the most common (19.0%), followed by human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human adenovirus (HAdV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- Higher positivity and coinfection rates were observed in children ≤5 years and hospitalized patients. RSV showed a counter-seasonal trend during COVID-19.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory viral infections in children exhibit distinct age, hospitalization, and seasonal patterns.
- Recommend testing for RSV, HRV, HPIV, and HAdV in children under 5 and hospitalized patients.
- Ongoing surveillance of RSV epidemiology post-COVID-19 is necessary.
Objective:
Researches on the epidemiology of various respiratory pathogens at multiple testing points in the pediatric population are limited, and these are crucial for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children.
Methods:
We obtained 1788 upper respiratory tract swabs from children exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection (notably fever with a body temperature exceeding 38.5°C) across five hospitals in Guangdong between November 2020 and June 2022. We used the multiplex probe amplification (MPA) PCR testing to identify 11 respiratory viruses and subsequently analyzed the prevalence characteristics of these pathogens among febrile children in hospitals.
Results:
The overall detection rate of the pathogens was 58.1% (1039/1788). Human rhinovirus (HRV) exhibited the highest detection rate at 19.0% (339/1788), succeeded by human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human adenovirus (HAdV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The positivity and coinfection rates were higher in children aged 5 years and below compared to those above 5 years. Moreover, a distinct pathogen spectrum was observed across different age groups. Hospitalized patients demonstrated a significantly higher positivity and coinfection rate compared to outpatients. During COVID-2019, RSV appeared a counter-seasonal trend.
Conclusion:
Respiratory viral infections in children display distinct characteristics concerning age, hospitalization status, and seasonality. Children under the age of 5 and minor patients admitted to hospitals at least be tested for RSV, HRV, HPIV, and HAdV. The epidemiological patterns of RSV in the post-epidemic period require ongoing surveillance.
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