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Symptoms Associated With Respiratory Pathogens in Young Children: 2019-2025
Daniel C Payne1,2, Huan Xu1, Allison R Burrell1
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pediatrics
|July 26, 2026
Summary
Infants with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) show varied symptoms and outcomes, with some experiencing severe respiratory distress. Understanding these differences in children can improve health strategies for common respiratory infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Respiratory medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) are a significant health concern in early childhood.
- These infections present with a wide spectrum of respiratory symptoms and clinical outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the symptomology profiles of various respiratory tract infections in infants and children.
- To describe the medical outcomes associated with different pathogen-specific respiratory infections.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal birth cohort study in Cincinnati, Ohio, collected nasal swabs and symptom data from children (November 2019 - August 2025).
- Pathogen detection used Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel and Flu SC2 assay.
- Independent pathogen symptomologies were analyzed by excluding co-infections.
Main Results:
- 15,898 ARIs were documented in 1223 children.
- Infants showed higher odds of respiratory distress with Influenza A, RSV A, RSV B, human metapneumovirus, and SARS-CoV-2 compared to older children.
- Influenza A was associated with increased odds of fever and anorexia compared to Influenza B; gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea were common with RSV and influenza.
Conclusions:
- Significant variability exists in ARI symptoms and outcomes among healthy US children.
- Further research into the factors influencing symptom severity could lead to improved pediatric health interventions.
- Frequent gastrointestinal symptoms during ARIs and distinct differences between Influenza A and B warrant attention.
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