Saliva Test Accurately Predicts Severity of Respiratory Infections in Children

A new study has recently revealed a saliva test that can accurately predict the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children. This study has found that if saliva contains too few protective antibodies, pneumonia episodes may occur. 

Saliva testing is a convenient and effective method for children who are suffering from recurrent respiratory infections. It provides valuable information for treatment and is more comfortable for them. 

One of the reputed pediatric infectious disease specialists, Lilly Verhagen said that understanding the severity of a disease is very important for pediatricians to understand which children need more care and when antibiotics are appropriate. It helps them provide the best possible care that can effectively treat the disease. 

This study was recently published in the European Respiratory Journal. In this study, researchers involved 100 children with recurrent respiratory infections. When they observed the results, they found that saliva measurements were more accurate and showed the severity of this disease as compared to blood measurements.  

They found that there was no relation between blood antibodies and disease burden. But they found broad protective antibodies in saliva. They also found children with lower levels had more severe infections. It indicates that antibodies in saliva are a good indicator of disease burden. 

The broadly protective antibodies were also present in the airways of all participated children. They were also found in their parents, siblings, and healthy caregivers. These broadly protective antibodies are beneficial and protect the body from any respiratory infections. A high level of these antibodies in saliva can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It indicates their widespread presence in pre-pandemic children’s saliva.  

Despite being abundant in saliva, broadly protective antibodies are not widely found in the blood. 

Verhagen explained that the body needs a broad spectrum of antibodies in its airways due to inhaling various respiratory pathogens. She said only a few enter the bloodstream through the mucosa of the intestines or airways that requires a strong, targeted immune response. 

Researchers also tried to study the balance between healthy and harmful bacteria in the airway microbiome. They found that Haemophilus influenzae is strongly associated with respiratory infections severity. It is a bacterium that colonizes healthy airways. Children with high abundances of this bacterium are more likely to be ill in winter, and it has been linked to pneumonia episodes. 

Saliva and nasopharyngeal mucosal measurements are very important and highly beneficial. It can help healthcare professionals evaluate children with recurrent respiratory infections. 

The results of this study show that saliva tests can accurately predict the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children. Hence this study is very important and can help experts develop new treatments and therapies for children. Healthcare professionals should also consider this study while treating children with recurrent respiratory infections. They can easily understand the severity of the respiratory infections and decide who needs more attention and proper treatment.