{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T06:06:54Z","timestamp":1784700414484,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784678400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To analyze the epidemiological and infection characteristics of childhood influenza A virus infections in Hebei, China, from 2020 to 2024, and to provide a basis for influenza prevention and control among children.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A retrospective analysis was conducted on epidemiological and clinical data of children with influenza A virus infection who were hospitalized in Hebei Province from January 2020 to December 2024. Clinical specimens were analyzed using nucleic acid extraction reagents with automatic extraction on the Smart LabAssist-32 nucleic acid extractor. A 13-pathogen multiplex PCR detection kit combined with the GeXP multiplex gene expression analysis system was used for testing.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 298,810 specimens from children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections were collected. Among which 60,928 specimens were positive for influenza A virus (detection rate: 20.39%). The infection rate was highest in 2024 (23.03%) and lowest in 2020 (13.57%). The annual positive detection rates of influenza A virus in Hebei from 2020 to 2024 were 13.57%, 16.97%, 19.95%, 20.41%, and 23.03%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.05). The positive detection rate was significantly correlated with seasons, peaking in winter (29.04%) and reaching the lowest in spring and summer (5.4%). Mixed infections were detected in 16,049 specimens (26.34%), mainly involving rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and\n                      <jats:italic>Mycoplasma pneumoniae<\/jats:italic>\n                      (MP).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Pediatric influenza A virus infections in Hebei Province exhibit a clustered age distribution, pronounced seasonal variation, and a high co-infection rate. Enhanced surveillance and protective measures should be targeted toward children aged 1\u20135 years and prioritized during the winter season. This study provides important scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2026.1796772","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T05:54:10Z","timestamp":1784699650000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Epidemiological characteristics analysis of childhood influenza A virus infections in Hebei, China (2020\u20132024)"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Yishuo","family":"Sun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mingzhe","family":"He","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chan","family":"Wen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Han","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical, Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ling","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Hospital Infection, Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaodong","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hebei Province of Children's Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 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