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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Analysis of infectious disease rate in children of different ages aimed at developing hygiene education programs
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence should be addressed: Vasily P. Krylov
Gostinichnaya, 12, bld. 6, Moscow, 127106, Russia; moc.liamg@77.enur.ylisav
The persistently high rate of infectious diseases requires constant monitoring, in-depth analysis of age-related characteristics of the disease spread and dynamics, and also necessitates improving the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, specifically, children, adolescents, and their parents. The study aimed to to study epidemiological trends and identify the most vulnerable age groups among the pediatric population in the context of the incidence of key infections, such as acute intestinal infections (AIIs), enterovirus infection, viral hepatitis A, measles, whooping cough and enterobiasis. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of official statistical data over a seven-year period (2018−2024) was carried out covering the pediatric population of the Western Administrative Okrug (ZAO) of Moscow. Age differences in the structure of infectious morbidity have been determined. In children under one year, viral AIIs (rotavirus, norovirus) and airborne infections prevailed. A similar trend for viral AIIs is reported in children aged 1−2 years. High prevalence of enterobiasis is reported for children aged 3−6 years (attending preschool educational institutions), and a significant increase in the incidence of enterovirus infection and airborne infections is reported in all age groups, especially in school students and adolescents. As for the viral hepatitis A incidence, the situation remains stable throughout the assessed period in all age groups. High incidence of key infections among children persisting in all age groups demonstrates an urgent need for the development and implementation of the targeted and adapted hygiene education programs for pediatric population and parents.
Keywords: morbidity, infectious diseases, hygiene education, children and adolescents, age groups