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. 2014 Jul;8(4):443-51.
doi: 10.1111/irv.12257. Epub 2014 May 14.

A 3-year prospective study of the epidemiology of acute respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children in Shenzhen, China

Ying He  1 , Guang-Yu Lin, Qiong Wang, Xiao-Ying Cai, Yin-Hui Zhang, Chuang-Xing Lin, Chang-Dong Lu, Xue-Dong Lu
Affiliations

A 3-year prospective study of the epidemiology of acute respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children in Shenzhen, China

Ying He et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The epidemiology of local viral etiologies is essential for the management of viral respiratory tract infections. Limited data are available in China to describe the epidemiology of viral respiratory infections, especially in small-medium cities and rural areas.

Objectives: To determine the viral etiology and seasonality of acute respiratory infections in hospitalized children, a 3-year study was conducted in Shenzhen, China.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal aspirates from eligible children were collected. Influenza and other respiratory viruses were tested by molecular assays simultaneously. Data were analyzed to describe the frequency and seasonality.

Results: Of the 2025 children enrolled in the study, 971 (48.0%) were positive for at least one viral pathogen, in which 890 (91.7%) were <4 years of age. The three most prevalent viruses were influenza A (IAV; 35.8%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 30.5%) and human rhinovirus (HRV; 21.5%). Co-infections were found in 302 cases (31.1%), and dual viral infection was dominant. RSV, HRV and IAV were the most frequent viral agents involved in co-infection. On the whole, the obvious seasonal peaks mainly from March to May were observed with peak strength varying from 1 year to another.

Conclusions: This study provides a basic profile of the epidemiology of acute respiratory viral infection in hospitalized children in Shenzhen. The spectrum of viruses in the study site is similar to that in other places, but the seasonality is closely related to geographic position, different from that in big cities in northern China and neighboring Hong Kong.

Keywords: Acute respiratory tract infection; China; hospitalized children; viruses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Monthly distribution and positive rates of acute respiratory tract infection cases in 2025 inpatient children, July 2007–June 2010.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Monthly distribution of co-infection cases and co-infection rates in 2025 inpatient children, July 2007–June 2010.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Monthly distribution of single virus detected in 2025 inpatient children, July 2007–June 2010. (A) Influenza virus A (IAV); (B) respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV) and parainfluenza viruses (PIVs); (C) Influenza virus B (IBV) and adenovirus (ADV); (D) human bocavirus (HBoV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), WU polyomavirus (WUPoyV).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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