New Delhi: Saliva tests can more accurately determine the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children than the standard blood test, a new study showed on Thursday. A study was conducted by researchers from Radboudumc Amalia Children’s Hospital and UMC Utrecht Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Netherlands, the study reveals that low levels of broadly protective antibodies in saliva are linked to an increased likelihood of pneumonia episodes in children. This method offers valuable diagnostic information and is more comfortable for children.
Recurrent respiratory infections affect 10–15 percent of children. Typically, pediatricians rely on blood tests to identify antibody deficiencies as an underlying condition, though these tests often yield limited results. “This is challenging for pediatricians because we want to help the children,” said Dr.
Lilly Verhagen, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Radboudumc. “We explored whether saliva testing could better indicate disease severity, which would help determine which children need more intensive care or antibiotic treatment,” she added. The study, which involved 100 children with recurrent respiratory infections, found that saliva measurements were more effective than blood tests in indicating disease severity.
“We observed no correlation between blood antibodies and disease burden, but saliva revealed broadly protective antibodies that combat a range of pathogens. Children with lower levels of .