Analysis of influenza A, influenza B and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection in Xi’an from 2021 to 2023

Objective: (Mp) in children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) between 2021 and 2023. Methods: FluA, FluB and Mp were detected by antigen/antibody kit in specimens from 29,014 children with ARTI admitted to Xi'an Children's Hospital. Results: < 0.001). FluA detection also increased and was present in 0.53% cases in 2021, 6.01% in 2022 and 12.90% in 2023, reaching a peak in February 2023 of 17.83% and March 2023 of 64.42%. FluB detection rates were more stable at 5.25% in 2021, 7.67% in 2022 and 6.75% in 2023, reaching a peak of 22.17% in December 2023. Mp detection was higher in 2023 at 47.05% with a peak of 82.21% in October 2023 than in 2021 (15.89%) or 2022 (15.69%). More FluA-positive cases were seen in the >12 age groups than in younger children and FluB detection also increased with age. Mp infection was detected in the >4 age group. Conclusion: The pathogen spectrum and epidemiology of ARTI changed between 2021 and 2023. Age-specific bandings of infection were seen in the cohort of children. Outbreaks of FluA, FluB and Mp influence the pathology of ARTI.