Epidemiological Characteristics of Upper Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Children in Guangdong, China

ABSTRACT 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. Prevalence of pediatric respiratory viruses in Guangdong: Study of 1788 children reveals a 58.1% pathogen detection rate, with human rhinovirus most prevalent. Highlights need for targeted diagnostic strategies in pediatric respiratory infections. Impact of COVID‐19 on seasonal virus patterns: Observes a counter‐seasonal trend in respiratory viruses, particularly RSV, during the pandemic. Highlights how public health measures have influenced typical viral epidemiological patterns. Diagnostic advancements with multiplex probe amplification PCR: utilization of advanced diagnostics like multiplex probe amplification PCR demonstrates its efficacy in detecting multiple pathogens, influencing treatment strategies and infection control in pediatric care.