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Descriptive epidemiology of common respiratory pathogen infections in children: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Yahao Chen1, Yanhua Zeng1, Yan Liu2
1Medical Laboratory Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830000, China.
Insights
Respiratory infections in children are common in Xinjiang. Influenza A virus was the most frequent single pathogen, while co-infections were prevalent, particularly in children aged 3-7 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant global health burden on children, with high rates of illness and death, especially in underserved areas.
- This research focuses on the descriptive epidemiology of prevalent respiratory pathogens affecting children in Xinjiang, China.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of common respiratory pathogens in pediatric patients in Xinjiang.
- To identify age-specific trends and co-infection patterns of respiratory pathogens in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 2364 pediatric outpatients and emergency department visitors (aged 0-14 years) with respiratory infections.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed using multiplex PCR to detect six common pathogens: influenza A virus (IFVA), influenza B virus (IFVB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP).
Main Results:
- The most common single pathogen detected was influenza A virus (32.6%). Human rhinovirus (34.8%), influenza A virus (31.4%), and RSV (20.3%) were the most frequently identified viruses overall.
- Co-infections were frequent, with dual pathogen infections occurring in 86.0% of cases. The combination of IFVA and HRV was the most common dual infection (23.3%).
- Pathogen detection rates were highest in children aged 3 to 7 years. No significant sex-based differences in pathogen detection were observed.
Conclusions:
- This study provides valuable insights into the epidemiological profile of pediatric respiratory pathogen infections in Xinjiang, highlighting key age-specific patterns and co-infection dynamics.
- The findings serve as a crucial baseline for enhancing local surveillance and developing targeted preventive strategies in community healthcare settings.
Background:
Respiratory tract infections are a major global health concern for children, characterized by significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in resource-limited regions. This study investigated the descriptive epidemiology of common respiratory pathogens among children in Xinjiang, China.
Methods:
This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 2364 pediatric outpatients and emergency department visitors aged 0-14 years with respiratory infections from September 2023 to December 2023. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and analyzed using multiplex PCR for six common pathogens: influenza A virus (IFVA), influenza B virus (IFVB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). The distribution of pathogens among different age groups was evaluated.
Results:
No significant sex-based differences were observed in the detection of IFVA, IFVB, RSV, MP, HRV, and ADV (P > 0.05). Among the nasopharyngeal swab samples, 58% (1371/2364) were positive for a single respiratory pathogen, 21.8% (516/2364) for two pathogens, 3.3% (78/2364) for three pathogens, and 0.3% (6/2364) for four pathogens. Notably, IFVA had the highest detection rate (32.6%) among the single infections. HRV was the most frequently identified virus, accounting for 34.8%, followed closely by IFVA at 31.4% and RSV at 20.3%. ADV was detected in 10.4% of cases, while MP and IFVB were found in 8.7% and 7.1% of samples, respectively. The highest pathogen detection rates were observed in children aged 3 to 7 years. Among the co-infections, dual pathogen infections predominated, comprising 86.0% of instances; notably, the combination of IFVA and HRV accounted for 23.3% of these cases. Triple pathogen infections represented 13% of co-infections, with combinations such as RSV, HRV, and ADV being the most prevalent.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the epidemiological profile of respiratory pathogen infections among pediatric outpatients and emergency visitors in Xinjiang, revealing crucial age-specific trends and co-infection patterns. Despite limitations inherent to its single-center, retrospective design, these findings provide a valuable baseline for informing local surveillance and guiding preventive strategies in community healthcare settings.
Trial Registration:
Not applicable.
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