Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024
Abstract Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae, MP) is a common pathogen causing respiratory tract infections, particularly in children. In 2023, a resurgence of MP epidemics was observed in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This study aims to examine the epidemiological trends and clinical cha...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05435-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571287134797824 |
|---|---|
| author | Jieyu Mao Zhili Niu Mengling Liu Liangyu Li Haiyue Zhang Ruiyun Li Pingan Zhang Xiaojun Wu |
| author_facet | Jieyu Mao Zhili Niu Mengling Liu Liangyu Li Haiyue Zhang Ruiyun Li Pingan Zhang Xiaojun Wu |
| author_sort | Jieyu Mao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae, MP) is a common pathogen causing respiratory tract infections, particularly in children. In 2023, a resurgence of MP epidemics was observed in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This study aims to examine the epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MP infections among children in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024, providing valuable scientific evidence to guide local prevention strategies. Methods From January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2024, samples were collected from children under 14 years with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI) at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. MP infections were diagnosed through MP-IgM antibody detection and MP-DNA detection. Results were analyzed and compared across distinct epidemic periods. Results Of the 183 626 ARTI children, 57 393 (31.26%) tested positive for MP, with an average age of 4.87 ± 2.99 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.12:1. The annual positive rates from 2018 to 2024 were 45.92%, 32.23%, 22.84%, 16.22%, 16.26%, and 42.93%, respectively. Across the study period, the highest positive rate was recored in autumn (35.13%, P < 0.05). Two distinct MP outbreaks were identified, in 2018–2019 and 2023. Significant differences were observed between the two outbreaks. The 2018–2019 epidemic peaked in summer, while the 2023 epidemic peaked in November and persisted into February 2024. By age, the 2018–2019 outbreaks predominantly affected pre-school children, whereas the 2023 outbreaks mainly involved school-aged children. In boths outbreaks, girls had higher positive rates. Antibody and DNA testing results followed similar trends. Conclusion This study highlights the epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MP infections in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024, including two distinct outbreaks with differing seasonal patterns. The MP strain in 2023 appeared to predominantly affect older children.The trends observed suggest that MP infections may persist into the winter of 2024. Enhanced surveillance of respiratory pathogens and early diagnosis and prevention of MP infections in children remain critical in this region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20cb3e2f9299453185f8383527d77cba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-20cb3e2f9299453185f8383527d77cba2025-02-02T12:42:44ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-01-012511910.1186/s12887-025-05435-9Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024Jieyu Mao0Zhili Niu1Mengling Liu2Liangyu Li3Haiyue Zhang4Ruiyun Li5Pingan Zhang6Xiaojun Wu7Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University WuhanAbstract Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae, MP) is a common pathogen causing respiratory tract infections, particularly in children. In 2023, a resurgence of MP epidemics was observed in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This study aims to examine the epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MP infections among children in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024, providing valuable scientific evidence to guide local prevention strategies. Methods From January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2024, samples were collected from children under 14 years with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI) at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. MP infections were diagnosed through MP-IgM antibody detection and MP-DNA detection. Results were analyzed and compared across distinct epidemic periods. Results Of the 183 626 ARTI children, 57 393 (31.26%) tested positive for MP, with an average age of 4.87 ± 2.99 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.12:1. The annual positive rates from 2018 to 2024 were 45.92%, 32.23%, 22.84%, 16.22%, 16.26%, and 42.93%, respectively. Across the study period, the highest positive rate was recored in autumn (35.13%, P < 0.05). Two distinct MP outbreaks were identified, in 2018–2019 and 2023. Significant differences were observed between the two outbreaks. The 2018–2019 epidemic peaked in summer, while the 2023 epidemic peaked in November and persisted into February 2024. By age, the 2018–2019 outbreaks predominantly affected pre-school children, whereas the 2023 outbreaks mainly involved school-aged children. In boths outbreaks, girls had higher positive rates. Antibody and DNA testing results followed similar trends. Conclusion This study highlights the epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics of MP infections in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024, including two distinct outbreaks with differing seasonal patterns. The MP strain in 2023 appeared to predominantly affect older children.The trends observed suggest that MP infections may persist into the winter of 2024. Enhanced surveillance of respiratory pathogens and early diagnosis and prevention of MP infections in children remain critical in this region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05435-9ChildrenMycoplasma pneumoniaeAcute respiratory tract infectionEpidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Jieyu Mao Zhili Niu Mengling Liu Liangyu Li Haiyue Zhang Ruiyun Li Pingan Zhang Xiaojun Wu Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 BMC Pediatrics Children Mycoplasma pneumoniae Acute respiratory tract infection Epidemiology |
| title | Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| title_full | Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| title_short | Comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in Wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| title_sort | comparison of the epidemiological characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among children during two epidemics in wuhan from 2018 to 2024 |
| topic | Children Mycoplasma pneumoniae Acute respiratory tract infection Epidemiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05435-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jieyumao comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT zhiliniu comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT menglingliu comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT liangyuli comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT haiyuezhang comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT ruiyunli comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT pinganzhang comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 AT xiaojunwu comparisonoftheepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofmycoplasmapneumoniaeinfectionsamongchildrenduringtwoepidemicsinwuhanfrom2018to2024 |