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Development of Multiplex Real-Time RT-qPCR Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, and MERS-CoV
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Published on: November 10, 2023

Epidemiological analysis of six common respiratory pathogen infections in children in Chengdu from 2022 to 2024

Chunyuan Wang1, Mengjun Luo1, Shuzhe Yang1

  • 1Clinical Laboratory Department, Chengdu Womens and Childrens Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|May 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Human rhinovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were common in children with respiratory infections. Higher infection rates were observed in winter and in older children, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) pose a significant health burden in children.
  • Understanding the prevalence of common respiratory pathogens is crucial for effective management.
  • This study focuses on six key respiratory pathogens in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the epidemiological characteristics of six common respiratory pathogens in hospitalized children.
  • To analyze pathogen prevalence, age distribution, sex distribution, seasonality, and clinical manifestations.
  • To provide data for informed clinical diagnosis and public health strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 64,500 pediatric patients admitted with RTI symptoms (September 2022 - December 2024).
  • Multiplex reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) used for pathogen detection.
  • Epidemiological data including age, sex, season, and clinical diagnosis were collected.

Main Results:

  • Over 53% of children tested positive for at least one pathogen.
  • Human rhinovirus (HRV) was most prevalent (18.67%), followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (14.93%).
  • Positive rates increased with age, peaked in winter, and pneumonia was the most common diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Children remain vulnerable to respiratory pathogens post-epidemic.
  • Continuous epidemiological surveillance is vital for early diagnosis and control.
  • Findings support evidence-based strategies for prevention and rational drug use.
Abstract

Keywords:
adenoviruseshuman rhinovirusinfluenza virusmycoplasma pneumoniaerespiratory pathogensrespiratory syncytial virusrespiratory tract infection

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