# Epidemiological analysis of respiratory pathogen detection in 11 regions of Yunnan from 2021 to 2023

## TL;DR

This study analyzed respiratory infections in Yunnan, China, finding that young children and summer are key factors in infection spread.

## Contribution

The study provides new epidemiological insights into ARI pathogens in Yunnan, highlighting age, season, and regional patterns.

## Key findings

- Preschool children had the highest pathogen detection rate at 60.59%.
- Summer was the peak detection period with 31.56% of cases.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the most common pathogens.

## Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARI), caused by various pathogens, are a significant global public health issue, and their epidemiological characteristics across different populations and regions still require indepth research. Based on laboratory surveillance data, this study analyzed the detection and distribution characteristics of ARI pathogens in 11 areas of Yunnan Province from 2021 to 2023.

A total of 7,906 ARI patient samples from 11 regions in Yunnan Province were included, and pathogen detection was performed using targeted next-generation sequencing (TNGS) technology covering viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory pathogens. Stratified analysis was conducted by age group, season, and geographical region, with further evaluation of co-detection patterns.

The results showed that the pathogen detection rate was highest in preschool children (0–5 years group) at 60.59%, with Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.56%), Respiratory syncytial virus (6.43%), and Haemophilus influenzae (5.87%) being the most common. Seasonal analysis indicates that summer is the peak detection period (31.56%), while the distribution of pathogens varies significantly across different regions, with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae being the dominant pathogens. The co-detection pattern shows that Streptococcus pneumoniae (23.57%) and Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7, 10.41%) are the most common co-detected pathogens.

In summary, ARI in Yunnan Province exhibits distinct age specificity, seasonality, and regional differences, with children and summer being the key focuses for prevention and control. These results provide epidemiological evidence for optimizing the prevention and clinical management strategies of ARI in Yunnan Province.