biostudies-literatureLong SJThis study was supported by the Key Project of the Health Commission of Hunan Province60https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12801765biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)<h4>Background</h4>The zero-COVID policy and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented in response to COVID-19 concurrently influenced the transmission of other respiratory pathogens. In the post-pandemic era following the policy's cessation, whether the epidemiological patterns of these respiratory pathogens have reverted to pre-pandemic baselines or persisted unchanged remains a subject of interest.<h4>Methods</h4>The retrospective study analyzed 8,774 cases with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) from 2022 to 2024, with data sourced from 26 children's hospitals or general hospitals in Hunan Province, to investigate the potential impacts of policy changes on epidemiology. Nine common respiratory pathogens were detected using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) teBMC infectious diseasesEpidemiological analysis of pediatric respiratory pathogens in Hunan, China: a retrospective multicenter study from 2022 to 2024.PMC12801765Grant No. A202306019386Luo QLLiu DJTian CJShen YPLiu TXiang XJYi SJHe YHWu DJShe YFZhao XYZou GFLong SJFu XRLei DFZhong LLYu YZhang JJOuyang JPYang LQJiang JJGuo TYLiao XFHe ZOu YXYang RYin NHu RXu JZfalseEpidemiological analysis of pediatric respiratory pathogens in Hunan, China: a retrospective multicenter study from 2022 to 2024.<h4>Background</h4>The zero-COVID policy and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented in response to COVID-19 concurrently influenced the transmission of other respiratory pathogens. In the post-pandemic era following the policy's cessation, whether the epidemiological patterns of these respiratory pathogens have reverted to pre-pandemic baselines or persisted unchanged remains a subject of interest.<h4>Methods</h4>The retrospective study analyzed 8,774 cases with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) from 2022 to 2024, with data sourced from 26 children's hospitals or general hospitals in Hunan Province, to investigate the potential impacts of policy changes on epidemiology. Nine common respiratory pathogens were detected using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) te2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-11T05:00:33.703Z2026-06-11T03:08:02.655ZS-EPMC128017654137281010.1186/s12879-025-12283-6