Viral etiology of 10 155 children with acute respiratory tract infection in Shijiazhuang city from 2017 to 2018

Objective To elucidate the viral etiology of acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) visited in Hebei Children′s Hospital in Shijiazhuang city from 2017 to 2018. Methods A total of 10 155 children with ARI treated in Hebei Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to January 2018 were enrolled in the study.The clinical data were collected, and the serum samples were sent for multi-pathogen detection with direct immunofluoreseence assay, including influenza virus type A and B, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1), PIV-2, PIV-3.The results of the above detections were analyzed, and thereby to explore the prevalent pathogens among different aging children. Results At least one type of pathogen was detected in 3 500 out of 10 155 children and the overall positive rate was 34.47%, in which respiratory syncytial virus was 46.23%, influenza virus was 15.46% (influenza virus B was the principal type), parainfluenza virus was 33.89%, PIV-3 was 21.57%, PIV-1 was 10.26%, PIV-2 was 2.06%.Meanwhile, adenovirus and influenza virus type A were also detected out.In addition, 77 specimens were mixed infection.There was statistically significant difference in detection rates of influenza virus type A and B, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, PIV-1, PIV-2 and PIV-3 among children of different age groups.Infection was more common in young children under three years old. Conclusions Respiratory syncytial virus and PIV-3 are the major viral pathogens of ARI in infants and young children visited in Hebei Children′s Hospital in Shijiazhuang area from 2017 to 2018. Key words: Child; Respiratory tract infection, acute; Etiology; Respiratory viruses; Direct immunofluoreseence assay