Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children in Nanchang and its correlation with climate environmental factors. METHODS: The clinical data were collected from children with acute respiratory infection in Nanchang who were tested for RSV at Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023, along with climate environmental data for the same period. The epidemiological characteristics of RSV and their correlation with climate environmental factors were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 178 127 children underwent RSV testing from January 2019 to December 2023, with a positive detection rate of 8.35% (14 873/178 127). The positive detection rate in males was 8.92% (10 137/113 660), which was higher than that in females (7.35%, 4 736/64 467). The differences in RSV positive detection rates among different age groups were statistically significant (P<0.001), with the highest rate observed in the 0 to <3 months age group (14.38%, 3 328/23 142). Peaks in RSV positive detection occurred during winter and spring periods in 2019, 2020, and 2022, while in 2023, it occurred in spring and summer periods, with no seasonality noted in 2021. The RSV positive detection rate showed a positive correlation with average humidity, average atmospheric pressure, monthly PM(2.5), and monthly carbon monoxide levels (P<0.05), while it showed a negative correlation with average wind speed, average temperature, and maximum 8-hour ozone levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In Nanchang, the RSV positive detection rate in children with acute respiratory infection is higher in males than in females. Among children of all age groups, the infants aged 0 to <3 months have the highest detection rate of RSV. RSV infection predominantly occurs in winter and spring periods. Lower temperatures, lower wind speeds, higher humidity, and elevated levels of PM(2.5) and carbon monoxide may increase the risk of RSV infection in children.