Abstract:
Objectives To analyze sentinel surveillance data of viral diarrhea in children aged ≤5 years in 10 provinces (municipalities) of China from 2022 to 2024, describe the epidemiological characteristics of viral diarrhea, and provide evidence for the improvement of viral diarrhea prevention and control.
Methods According to the National Viral Diarrhea Surveillance Protocol (2021), sentinel surveillance for viral diarrhea was conducted nationwide during 2022–2024. Stool samples and epidemiological data were collected from children aged ≤5 years hospitalized due to diarrhea at 15 sentinel hospitals in 10 representative provinces (municipalities). Specimens were tested for norovirus (NoV), rotavirus (RV), enteric adenovirus (AdV), astrovirus (AstV), and sapovirus (SaV). The genogroups of NoV and the genotypes of RV group A A were further identified. In addition, χ2 test and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare differences in epidemiological and clinical characteristics.
Results A total of 8,338 hospitalized children with diarrhea were included in this study during 2022–2024. The overall average detection rate of the five viruses was 44.00%, with annual detection rates of 35.52%, 48.38%, and 47.24%, respectively. The average detection rates were 17.15% for NoV, 11.78% for RV, 3.11% for AdV, 1.91% for AstV, and 1.66% for SaV. The average co-infection rate was 8.41%, RV+NoV infection was the common, accounting for 35.81%. The detection rate was higher in children aged 24–<60 months than in those aged 0–<24 months (χ2=16.393, P<0.001), higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn (χ2=349.04, P<0.001), and lower in class A region than in class B region (χ2=40.736, P<0.001). Compared with single RV infection, the co-infections of RV+NoV and RV+AstV showed no more severe gastrointestinal symptoms; however, compared with single AdV infection, the co-infections of AdV+NoV and AdV+RV were associated with more severe symptoms. NoV II were predominated (18.21%), while RV G9P8 (4.38%) and G8P8 (5.90%) were the most common.
Conclusion During 2022–2024, due to widespread RV vaccination in children aged ≤5 years in some areas of China, NoV became the leading viral pathogen causing diarrhea. Co-infection with AdV might result in more severe clinical symptoms. It is still necessary to strengthen multi-pathogen surveillance and take comprehensive prevention and control measures.