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Pediatric Health and Respiratory Diseases / Respiratory Viral Infections Research / Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections · Journal article
Frontiers in Public Health · September 3, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This retrospective multicenter study describes the prevalence of six common respiratory pathogens in 5,835 children with acute respiratory infections in two Chinese regions over 12 months. Rhinovirus (23.8%), RSV (20.2%), and influenza A (8.8%) were most frequently detected; Linxia showed significantly higher positivity than Xiamen (65.4% vs. 49.0%), with adjusted odds ratio 1.86 (95% CI 1.65–2.10). The findings are descriptive and establish epidemiological patterns but do not address clinical outcomes, severity, or intervention efficacy.
Multicenter retrospective cohort study. Children aged 28 days to 14 years with acute respiratory infections from two regional centres in China (coastal Xiamen and inland Linxia).. n = 5,835. Two centres in coastal Xiamen and inland Linxia, China..
Overall positivity 53.9% (3,143/5,835); co-detections 5.0% (290/5,835) Rhinovirus most common at 23.8%, followed by RSV 20.2% and Flu A 8.8% Linxia positivity 65.4% vs. Xiamen 49.0% (p < 0.001); adjusted odds ratio 1.86 (95% CI 1.65–2.10)
No clinical outcome data (severity, hospitalization, mortality) reported.
Clinicians should recognize regional and seasonal variation in respiratory pathogen prevalence to guide empirical testing and prevention strategies; however, this descriptive study does not address treatment efficacy, severity, or clinical outcomes.
Retrospective descriptive epidemiology from a single calendar year with no clinical outcomes, control group, or intervention; establishes pathogen prevalence patterns but cannot determine causation, severity, or practice-relevant associations.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should recognize regional and seasonal variation in respiratory pathogen prevalence to guide empirical testing and prevention strategies; however, this descriptive study does not address treatment efficacy, severity, or clinical outcomes.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Objective Acute respiratory infections are a major public health problem in children. The epidemiology of pediatric respiratory pathogens has shifted in recent years. This study aimed to compare the epidemiological patterns of six common respiratory pathogens among children with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Xiamen and Linxia, China. Methods This retrospective study included 5,835 children with ARI from December 2024 to November 2025. Oropharyngeal swabs were tested for rhinovirus (RV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus (Flu A), influenza B virus (Flu B), adenovirus (ADV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) using multiplex RT-PCR. Detection rates were compared by region, sex, age group and season. Results Overall, 3,143 samples (53.9%) were positive; 290 (5.0%) had co-detections. RV (23.8%), RSV (20.2%) and Flu A (8.8%) were most frequently detected. Positivity was higher in Linxia than in Xiamen (65.4% vs. 49.0%; p < 0.001). After adjustment, Linxia remained associated with higher odds of detection (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.65–2.10). Detection was also associated with male sex, toddler/preschool age and autumn/winter seasons. Conclusion RV, RSV and Flu A were the most frequently detected pathogens in both regions. The findings indicate regional, age-related and seasonal heterogeneity, supporting locally tailored surveillance and prevention planning.
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