title: Viral etiology of acute respiratory infection in Gansu Province, China, 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the leading cause of children and their leading killer. ARIs are responsible for at least six percent of the world's disability and death. Viruses are one of the most common agents causing ARIs. Few studies on the viral etiology and clinical characteristics of ARIs have been performed in the northwest region of China, including Gansu Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and demographic information and throat swabs were collected from 279 patients from January 1st to December 30st, 2011. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to detect 16 respiratory viral pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  279 patients were admitted for ARIs. The patients aged from 1 month to 12 years, with the median age of 2 years. Of which, 105 (37.6%) were positive for at least one pathogen. A total of 136 respiratory viral pathogens were identified from the 105 patients. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most frequently detected pathogen (26.5%, 36/136), followed by parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1-3 (22.1%, 30/136), human rhinovirus (HRV) (21.3%, 29/136), human coronavirus (CoV) (10.3%, 14/136) and human adenovirus (HAdV) (9.6%, 13/136). Influenza A (Flu A), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and human bocavirus (BoCA) were found 4.4%, 3.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Influenza B (Flu B) and seasonal influenza A H1N1(sH1N1) were not detected. Single-infections were detected in 30.5% (85/279) of cases. RSV was the most common pathogens in patients under 1 year and showed seasonal variation with peaks during winter and spring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper presents data on the epidemiology of viral pathogens associated with ARIs among children in Gansu Province, China. RSV is most frequently detected in our study. The findings could serve as a reference for local CDC in drawing up further plans to prevent and control ARIs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Medical Virology Ministry of Health, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Deshan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Naiying
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons