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Etiological and epidemiological features of acute respiratory infections in Wuhu of China, November 2023 to November 2024

epidemiology
public-health
respiratory-medicine

Abstract

Background. Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are caused by various respiratory pathogens and pose a significant threat to public health worldwide. However, little has been reported on the etiological and epidemiological features of patients with ARIs in Wuhu .

Methods. We detected and analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of six common respiratory pathogens among ARI patients enrolled at the Second People's Hospital of Wuhu City from November 2023 to November 2024.

Results. 25.59% (1,467/5,733) of the ARI patients tested positive for at least one of the six respiratory pathogens. MP (7.69%) was the most frequently detected pathogen, followed by FluA (5.44%), HRV (5.37%), RSV (5.02%), FluB (3.23%), and ADV (2.90%). Furthermore, an age-specific positivity rate was found in this study. RSV (12.69%) was the most frequently detected pathogen in toddlers, while MP was also commonly detected in kindergarten children (13.84%) and school-age children (22.50%). In contrast, FluA had a higher prevalence in adults (5.66%) and the elderly (6.43%). Co-infections involving multiple pathogens were also observed in this study, with co-infection patterns varying among different age groups.

Conclusions. Our results underscore the need for tailored prevention strategies and clinical management of ARIs, considering patients’ demographics and the seasonal context of illness across various regions.

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