Objective To understand the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of psittacosis cases in Wuhan city, Hubei province, and to provide references for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of psittacosis.

Methods A retrospective investigation was conducted on confirmed cases of psittacosis in nine tertiary general hospitals and two specialized infectious disease hospitals in Wuhan city from January 2018 to April 2023. The epidemiological characteristics, laboratory tests, and clinical diagnosis and treatment processes of the cases were analyzed.

Results A total of 59 psittacosis cases were confirmed in 11 hospitals, including 2 fatal cases. The cases reported per year from 2018 to 2022 were 1, 3, 5, 20, and 23, respectively, with 7 cases reported from January to April 2023. Among the cases, 33 were male and 26 were female; 72.88% were aged 50-69 years; and 62.71% were retired individuals or farmers. The incidence was highest in winter, followed by spring and autumn, with fewer cases in summer. Only 24 cases (40.68%) had documented exposure to birds, including 16 with exposure to parrots, pigeons, and other birds, and 8 with exposure to chickens, ducks, and other poultry. The main clinical symptoms were fever (84.75%) and cough (59.32%). CT scans of 58 cases indicated pulmonary infections. The median time from onset to consultation was 6 days, and the median hospitalization duration was 13 days.

Conclusions The number of psittacosis cases in Wuhan city showed an increasing trend from 2018 to 2022, with a peak incidence in winter and predominantly affecting middle-aged and elderly individuals. The time from onset to consultation and the duration of hospitalization were relatively long. Measures should be taken for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment to reduce public health hazards.