The incidence of acute intestinal infections in children in Sevastopol in 2019–2023

Background. Acute intestinal infections (hereinafter referred to as AII) remain a significant public health problem due to their high virulence, especially among children, who are more susceptible to these pathogens due to underdeveloped immune systems and frequent poor hygiene. The incidence of AII is increasing worldwide, and resort towns are particularly vulnerable, where the main mode of transmission of this group of pathogens — through contaminated water — is much easier to realise. Objective. To analyse statistical data on the incidence of acute respiratory infections among children (0–17 years old) in Sevastopol in the period from 2019 to 2023 in order to identify epidemiological features and patterns of spread of these infections in the child population. Design and methods. The study was based on data provided by the territorial department of Rospotrebnadzor, which consisted of registered cases of established and unidentified etiology. All laboratory-confirmed diagnoses in patients over a five-year period were analysed. Descriptive statistics methods were used to process the data, including calculation of absolute and relative morbidity rates, as well as determination of the share of various infections in the overall morbidity structure. The data were visualised by constructing line graphs and histograms, which made it possible to identify the main trends and seasonal peaks in morbidity. Results. The conducted analysis showed a significant predominance of paediatric morbidity in the total structure of AII, reaching 71 %. Rotavirus infection dominated among the etiologically confirmed cases, accounting for 43 % of the total number of cases. Epidemiological monitoring revealed a well-defined seasonal dynamic with a maximum rise in morbidity in the summer-autumn period (3rd quarter), which corresponds to the characteristic epidemic cycle for this group of infections. The data obtained confirm the need to strengthen preventive measures in this time interval. Conclusion. The study allowed to identify patterns of AII morbidity and also showed a significant epidemiological role of rotavirus infection in the structure of child morbidity. The data obtained substantiate the need to optimise the regional system of surveillance and prevention with a focus on the identified seasonality. 

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