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Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Low Prevalence of Severe Underlying Pathology in Children With Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections

Daphne Peeters1, Pieter Verhulst2, Anja Aph Vaessen-Verberne3

  • 1From the Juliana Children's Hospital, pediatric department, the Hague, the Netherlands.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|July 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Most children with recurrent respiratory infections show no underlying pathology. Common diagnoses include asthma and adenoid hypertrophy, guiding pediatricians

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) are common in children.
  • Identifying underlying causes is crucial for effective management.
  • Distinguishing benign RRTIs from serious conditions is a clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic findings in children presenting with RRTIs in general pediatric practice.
  • To determine the prevalence of underlying pathologies in this cohort.
  • To provide guidance for the diagnostic approach in pediatric RRTIs.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 208 children with RRTIs.
  • Review of clinical presentations and diagnostic workups.
  • Exclusion of severe primary immunodeficiencies and pulmonary illnesses.

Main Results:

  • No underlying pathology was detected in 64% of the children.
  • Asthma/preschool wheezing was a common diagnosis.
  • Adenoid hypertrophy was frequently identified.
  • No cases of severe primary immunodeficiency or cystic fibrosis were found.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of children with RRTIs have no identifiable underlying pathology.
  • Asthma and adenoid hypertrophy are common findings that warrant consideration.
  • The study provides valuable insights for pediatricians managing RRTIs.
  • This data can help refine diagnostic strategies and reduce unnecessary investigations.

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