Viral surveillance for acute respiratory tract infection in children from the winter of 2015 to the spring of 2016

Objective To investigate the etiological characteristics of acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) in children seeking medical care in the pediatric outpatient department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from the winter of 2015 to the spring of 2016. Methods A total of 483 nasopharyngeal secretion samples were collected from children with ARI for the detections of influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus type A and B, parainfluenza virus type 1, 2, 3 and 4, rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, coronavirus, human bocavirus and enterovirus with multiple media probe melting curve analysis technique.Results The overall detection rate of respiratory viruses was 29.19% (141/483), the detection rate was 8.49% for influenza viruses, 5.38% for parainfluenza viruses, 3.93% for respiratory syncytial viruses, 2.90% for rhinovirus and 1.86% for co-infections. The virus detection rate in age group 29 days to 6 months was higher than those in age groups 3 to 5 years and 6 years, the differences were significant (P 0.05). The detection rate of influenza B virus was highest in age group 1 to 2 years, and the detection rate of coronavirus was highest in age group 29 days to 6 months. There was no significant difference in the total virus detection rate between males and females. The detection rate of respiratory syncytial virus type A in acute lower respiratory tract infection cases was 8.96%, which was significantly different from that of acute upper respiratory tract infection cases (P0.05). The detection rate of rhinovirus was higher in spring than in winter, and the detection rate of influenza B virus was higher in winter than in spring, and the differences were significant (P0.05), but no significant differences were found in the detection rate of other respiratory viruses between winter and spring.Conclusion The detection rate of respiratory infection pathogens in children with ARI was related to age, season and respiratory infection position. During the investigation period, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus were the major pathogens in children with ARI in pediatric outpatients department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.