Epidemiological characteristics of Epstein‐Barr virus infection in children and distribution of disease spectrum in hospitalized patients in shandong province

Abstract This study aims to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection in children and the distribution of disease spectrum in hospitalized patients in Shandong Province. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with EBV infection admitted to hospitals in Shandong Province from January 2022 to December 2022. The epidemiological characteristics, including age, gender, and clinical manifestations, were analyzed. The detection rate of EBV antibodies and the seropositivity rates of different antibodies were also examined. A total of 7124 children with EBV infection were included in this study, with an average age of 7.5 years. The male‐to‐female ratio was 1.43:1. Among the patients, the positive detection rate of EBV antibodies was 78.40%. The seropositivity rate of Epstein‐Barr viral capsid antigen‐Immunoglobin G antibodies was 57.09%. The highest incidence of EBV infection was observed in the age group 36−72 months. The urban positive rate was higher than that in rural areas. EBV infection in children in Shandong Province exhibits specific epidemiological characteristics, with a higher incidence in the age group of 36−72 months. Fever, sore throat, and fatigue are the main clinical manifestations. The detection rate of EBV antibodies is relatively high among hospitalized patients. These findings provide valuable information for controlling the transmission of children with suspected Epstein‐Barr virus infection.