Objective:

To investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of human coronavirus (HCoV) infections in pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI), highlighting the significance of understanding these infections in public health.

Key Findings:

• HCoV was detected in 147 cases (0.93%) among 15,281 pediatric ARTI patients, indicating a need for increased awareness.
• 80 children had HCoV-only infections, with primary diagnoses including bronchopneumonia (41.3%) and acute bronchitis (28.8%), suggesting significant clinical impact.
• Detection rates of HCoV varied by age, with no significant differences across age groups, highlighting the need for targeted monitoring.
• Annual detection rates were 0.87% in 2022, 0.82% in 2023, and 1.53% in the first half of 2024, indicating trends that warrant further investigation.

Interpretation:

HCoV infections, while less common than RSV, can lead to significant respiratory illness in children, particularly in the context of co-infections, underscoring the importance of public health monitoring.

Limitations:

• The study was limited to a single hospital, which may affect the generalizability of the findings; further multi-center studies are recommended.
• The retrospective design may introduce biases in data collection and interpretation, necessitating caution in drawing conclusions.

Conclusion:

HCoV infections are present in pediatric ARTI cases and can manifest with significant respiratory symptoms, highlighting the need for awareness, monitoring, and further research in public health strategies.