Characteristics pathogens of foodborne diseases in children aged 0 – 3 years in Guangzhou city, 2020 – 2022: an analysis of sentinel surveillance data

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics and pathogens of foodborne diseases among children aged 0 – 3 years in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, to provide data for the prevention and control of diseases in the population. MethodsMedical records and detection results of four common foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) were obtained from 1 270 foodborne illness cases aged 0 – 3 years reported by 289 sentinel hospitals in Guangzhou city from 2020 to 2022, and descriptive statistics were performed on the collected data. ResultsThe majority of cases occurred during the summer and fall seasons each year. The proportion of cases with the following clinical symptoms was 85.0% for diarrhea with 3 to 8 episodes and an average of 6.0 per day (74.8% with watery stools), 50.0% for fever with an average temperature of 39.0 ℃, 33.5% for vomiting with 2 to 5 episodes and an average of 3.0 per day, 12.8% for abdominal pain, and 6.1% for nausea. The reported suspect foods implicated in the incidence of illness were mainly cereals and their products. Pathogens associated with the illnesses of the cases were detected in 40.8% of the cases, predominantly Salmonella (99.6%), with a small percentage of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (0.4%). The detection rate of Salmonella in cases less than one year of age was 58.4%, significantly higher than in cases 1 – 3 years of age (32.3%) (P < 0.001). The dominant serotype of Salmonella detected in the cases was Salmonella Typhimurium variant 1,4,[5],12:i:- (68.2%), followed by Salmonella Enteritidis (9.7%), Salmonella Stanley (3.3%), and Salmonella Rissen (2.7%). Four serotypes of Salmonella with different virulence were detected. For example, infections with Salmonella Typhimurium variant 1,4,[5],12:i:- had a higher probability of fever than those with Salmonella Rissen (P = 0.004), and the probability of fever in cases infected with Salmonella Enteritidis was higher than that in cases infected with Salmonella Rissen (P = 0.002). ConclusionBased on the epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of foodborne diseases in children aged 0 – 3 years Guangzhou city, it is recommended to strengthen the prevention and control of foodborne diseases in this special population by ensuring food safety, conducting targeted consultations, strengthening target pathogen surveillance, and expanding publicity and education.

Keywords

• infants and young children
• foodborne disease
• epidemiological characteristics
• salmonella
• guangzhou city