Epidemiology Investigation
Analysis of the pathogenic spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of 520 children with influenza-like illnesses in Tianjin
Liu Xiaoman, Guo Liru, Kong Mei, Zou Ming, Liu Xiaochang, Li Xiaoyan
Published 2022-12-30
Cite as Chin J Microbiol Immunol, 2022, 42(12): 973-980. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112309-20220922-00308
Abstract
ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiological characteristics and pathogenic spectrum of influenza-like illnesses in Tianjin Children′s Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021, and to provide reference for the prevention, control and clinical diagnosis and treatment of influenza-like illnesses.
MethodsA total of 520 throat swabs samples were collected from patients with influenza-like illnesses in sentinel hospitals. Thirty respiratory tract pathogens were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results were statistically analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods.
ResultsAmong the 520 samples, 239 were positive for 16 respiratory pathogens with a positive rate of 45.96%. The top three pathogens were respiratory syncytial virus (9.62%, 50/520), rhinovirus (9.62%, 50/520) and cytomegalovirus (5.96%, 31/520). The positive rate of respiratory pathogens was 49.67% in males and 40.91% in females and the difference between males and females was statistically significant (χ2=3.919, P<0.05). There were significant differences in the positive rates among three age groups (χ2=6.182, P<0.05) with the highest positive rate in the <2 years old group (52.91%, 91/172) and the lowest rate in the >4 years old group (38.10%, 40/105). There were significant differences in the positive rates detected in different months (χ2=15.358, P<0.05) and the highest detection rate was in December (58.00%, 58/100), followed by those in November (52.50%, 42/80) and January (47.50%, 38/80). The multiple infection rate was 21.76% (52/239) and most of the multiple infections were caused by rhinovirus and other pathogens (48.08%, 25/52).
ConclusionsRespiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and cytomegalovirus were the predonimant pathogens responsible for influenza-like illnesses in Tianjin Children′s Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021. Multiple infections were common and children under 2 years old were more susceptible. The detection rate of respiratory pathogens varied in different months. It was necessary to strengthen the surveillance and research on those respiratory pathogens in order to provide scientific data for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in children.
Key words:
Respiratory pathogens; Children; Epidemic characteristics; Pathogenic spectrum
Contributor Information
Liu Xiaoman
School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Guo Liru
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Kong Mei
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Zou Ming
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Liu Xiaochang
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Li Xiaoyan
School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
