Acute Respiratory Tract Infections and Severe Disease Among Hospitalized Children - Report - MDSpire

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections and Severe Disease Among Hospitalized Children

  • By

  • Haifa Mtaweh

  • Caitlyn L. Kaziev

  • Carlee A. Feinstein

  • Claire Seaton

  • Daniel S. Farrar

  • Rohini R. Datta

  • Sanjay Mahant

  • Aaron Campigotto

  • Gabrielle Freire

  • Rae S. M. Yeung

  • Jeffrey N. Bone

  • Francine Buchanan

  • Shaun K. Morris

  • Peter J. Gill

  • READAPT-Kids Study Group

  • Mei Han

  • Nicholas Barrowman

  • Gabriele Zitikyte

  • Cornelia Borkhoff

  • Patricia Parkin

  • Anya Nair

  • Nafisa Anwar

  • Rizk ElMadbak

  • Haniyyah Mahmood

  • Kody Wolfstadt

  • Nilushi de Silva

  • Polina Kyrychenko

  • Nardin Kirolos

  • Jonathan Fortini

  • Shamama Raza

  • Vincent Flores

  • Keane Fuerte

  • Pardis Noormohammadpour

  • Bayley Levy

  • Hafsa Azher

  • Fiona Muttalib

  • Tom McLaughlin

  • Matt Carwana

  • Srinivas Murthy

  • Manish Sadarangani

  • Connie Yang

  • Jocelyn A. Srigley

  • Jenny Retallack

  • Dave Goldfarb

  • Jonathan H. Rayment

  • Candice Wiedman

  • Melissa Braschel

  • Alam Lakhani

  • Opninder Lindstrom

  • Sanja Hadzi-Nikolova

  • Min-Jung Kim

  • Victoria Tapics

  • Henry Okpaladigbo

  • Joanna Xu

  • Zainab Zeyan

  • Baneesh Khosa

  • Gordon Krahn

  • Trish Page

  • Rita Janke

  • June 9, 2026

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Clinical Report: Severe Illness in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients Due to Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Overview

This study examines the demographics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in Canada from 2022 to 2023. It identifies factors associated with severe illness, highlighting the significant impact of viral infections and underlying conditions on pediatric health.

Background

Acute respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, particularly those under five years of age. Understanding the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of these infections is crucial for improving management strategies and reducing healthcare burdens. This study addresses gaps in knowledge regarding the severity of RTIs in a broader pediatric population, particularly in the context of recent viral co-circulation.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Respiratory viruses account for approximately 75% of acute respiratory tract infections in children.
  • Common pathogens include enterovirus-rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and human metapneumovirus.
  • Severe illness is associated with younger age, underlying health conditions, and bacterial coinfections.
  • Public health interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic altered the epidemiology of respiratory viruses.
  • The study utilized a multisite, retrospective cohort design to analyze hospitalized pediatric patients.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should be aware of the increased risk of severe illness in younger children and those with preexisting conditions when managing acute respiratory infections. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management strategies, including the use of respiratory support, are essential in this vulnerable population.

Conclusion

This study underscores the importance of understanding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections. Enhanced awareness and targeted interventions can help mitigate the impact of these infections on child health.

Related Resources & Content

  1. conexiant, Conexiant, 2023 -- Which Viruses Hit Kids Hardest?
  2. Infection, Infection, 2023 -- Clinical burden of acute respiratory infections in children < 5 years in the emergency room: results from the first season (2023/24) of the RISE study
  3. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023 -- Clinical Characteristics and In-hospital Outcomes Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus vs Other Viral Acute Lower Respiratory Infections in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 2 Years
  4. Infection, Infection, 2023 -- Ongoing High Incidence of Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Infections in Pediatric Facilities Across Germany, Fall/Winter 2023–2024
  5. CDC, CDC, 2026 -- Clinical Guidance for Patients with Acute Respiratory Illness Being Hospitalized When SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and Influenza Viruses are Co-Circulating
  6. Hospital Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2026 -- The Appropriate Use of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Bronchiolitis: A Delphi Approach
  7. Clinical Guidance for Patients with Acute Respiratory Illness Being Hospitalized When SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and Influenza Viruses are Co-Circulating | Influenza (Flu) | CDC
  8. The Appropriate Use of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Bronchiolitis: A Delphi Approach | Hospital Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics
  9. https://www.idsociety.org/globalassets/idsa/practice-guidelines/cap-2026/the-management-of-community-acquired-pneumonia-in-infants-and-children-older-than-3-months-of-age-topic-manuscript-2.25.26.pdf

Original Source(s)

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections and Severe Disease Among Hospitalized Children

  • by Haifa Mtaweh, Caitlyn L. Kaziev, Carlee A. Feinstein, Claire Seaton, Daniel S. Farrar, Rohini R. Datta, Sanjay Mahant, Aaron Campigotto, Gabrielle Freire, Rae S. M. Yeung, Jeffrey N. Bone, Francine Buchanan, Shaun K. Morris, Peter J. Gill, READAPT-Kids Study Group, Mei Han, Nicholas Barrowman, Gabriele Zitikyte, Cornelia Borkhoff, Patricia Parkin, Anya Nair, Nafisa Anwar, Rizk ElMadbak, Haniyyah Mahmood, Kody Wolfstadt, Nilushi de Silva, Polina Kyrychenko, Nardin Kirolos, Jonathan Fortini, Shamama Raza, Vincent Flores, Keane Fuerte, Pardis Noormohammadpour, Bayley Levy, Hafsa Azher, Fiona Muttalib, Tom McLaughlin, Matt Carwana, Srinivas Murthy, Manish Sadarangani, Connie Yang, Jocelyn A. Srigley, Jenny Retallack, Dave Goldfarb, Jonathan H. Rayment, Candice Wiedman, Melissa Braschel, Alam Lakhani, Opninder Lindstrom, Sanja Hadzi-Nikolova, Min-Jung Kim, Victoria Tapics, Henry Okpaladigbo, Joanna Xu, Zainab Zeyan, Baneesh Khosa, Gordon Krahn, Trish Page, Rita Janke

  • June 9, 2026

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