Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
High-throughput Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Animal Specimens by Nanoscale PCR
Published on: November 28, 2016
Prevalence of six respiratory pathogens among children in Chengdu, China: a multiplex PCR-based detection study
Chenggui Liu1,2, Jiuda Li1, Yao Deng2
1Department of Performance Appraisal Management, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Insights
Rhinovirus (RV), Adenovirus (ADV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) were the most common pathogens causing respiratory infections in children. Prevalence varied significantly by age, season, and clinical diagnosis, informing targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Virology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common in children, caused by various pathogens with differing prevalence.
- Understanding pathogen distribution is crucial for effective public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Influenza A (Flu A), Influenza B (Flu B), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Adenovirus (ADV), Rhinovirus (RV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in children.
- To analyze variations in pathogen prevalence across different demographic and clinical groups in Chengdu.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 39,190 children.
- Respiratory specimens were analyzed using multiplex PCR for six key respiratory pathogens.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of single, double, and triple infections was 48.19%, 7.09%, and 0.25%, respectively.
- Rhinovirus (21.43%), Adenovirus (16.69%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (11.73%) were the most prevalent pathogens.
- Pathogen prevalence significantly differed across age groups, seasons, and clinical diagnoses (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Over half of the children studied had at least one of the six pathogens, with RV, ADV, and MP being predominant.
- Co-infections, particularly double infections, were observed.
- Findings highlight the need for age, season, and diagnosis-specific prevention and control strategies for pediatric RTIs.
Background:
Respiratory tract infections among children are commonly caused by several pathogens, and their prevalence varies across different groups. The goal of this study is to investigate the prevalence of Influenza A virus (Flu A), Influenza B virus (Flu B), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Adenovirus (ADV), Rhinovirus (RV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) among children in different groups in Chengdu and analyze their differences.
Methods:
This retrospective cross-sectional study included 39,190 children, with 21,847 males and 17,343 females. All respiratory specimens from the participants were tested for Flu A, Flu B, RSV, ADV, RV, and MP using multiplex PCR.
Results:
The overall prevalence of single infection, double co-infection, and triple co-infection was 48.19%, 7.09%, and 0.25%, respectively. The pathogen-specific prevalence from highest to lowest was RV (21.43%), ADV (16.69%), MP (11.73%), RSV (8.12%), Flu A (3.78%), and Flu B (1.37%). Significant differences were observed in the prevalence of the six pathogens across all six age groups (all p < 0.001). The prevalence of Flu A, Flu B, ADV, and MP was highest in school-aged children and lowest in newborns; RSV prevalence peaked in infants and was lowest in adolescents; RV was most prevalent in toddlers and least in newborns. The prevalence of Flu A, Flu B, and RSV was significantly higher in spring/winter than in summer/autumn (p < 0.001). MP and RV prevalence was significantly higher in spring/summer than in autumn/winter (p < 0.001), while ADV prevalence was significantly higher in autumn/summer than in winter/spring (p < 0.001). Among the five clinical diagnosis groups, Flu A and Flu B prevalence was highest in SRLT and lowest in CRDs; RSV and MP peaked in ALRTIs and bottomed in AURTIs; RV was highest in CRDs and lowest in AURTIs; ADV was highest in AURTIs and lowest in CRDs.
Conclusions:
Over half of the children were infected with at least one of the six respiratory pathogens, with RV, ADV, and MP being predominant. While co-infections were less common than single infections, they still occurred, with double co-infections being the main form. Notably, the prevalence varied significantly by age, season, and clinical diagnosis. These findings may offer useful references for developing targeted prevention and control strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
01:26Sputum Studies I: Gram Stain, cytology, and Acid-fast smear and culture
Gram Stain
The Gram Stain is an integral part of sputum studies. It involves the staining of sputum, which permits...
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks