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The Approaches to the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in...
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The Approaches to the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 2774

Editors

Prof. Dr. Doina Anca Pleșca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. “Carol Davila” Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
2. “Matei Bals” National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 021105 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: asthma management; infectious diseases; respiratory diseases; pediatric pulmonary
Dr. Carmen Duicu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pediatrics 1, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No. 38, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
Interests: infectious diseases; pediatric pulmonary

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) remain the most common cause of morbidity and healthcare utilization in children worldwide. Despite advances in vaccination, antimicrobial therapy and supportive care, RTIs continue to exert a substantial clinical, social and economic burden, particularly in infants and young children. The increasing recognition of viral predominance, antimicrobial resistance, environmental influences and host-related susceptibility factors has shifted the focus from treatment toward comprehensive prevention strategies. Over the past decades, preventive approaches have evolved from pathogen-specific interventions to multifaceted strategies integrating immunological, environmental, behavioral and public health perspectives.

This Special Issue in Children aims to provide clinically relevant insights into preventive strategies for pediatric respiratory tract infections. The scope includes primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, with emphasis on interventions applicable in daily clinical practice and adaptable to different healthcare systems.

We particularly welcome contributions addressing innovative preventive strategies, digital health interventions and the role of environmental and socio-economic determinants. Studies evaluating real-world effectiveness, implementation challenges and outcomes in hospital and outpatient settings are particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Doina Anca Pleșca
Dr. Carmen Duicu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • respiratory tract infections
  • children
  • infection prevention
  • vaccination strategies
  • viral respiratory infections
  • antimicrobial stewardship
  • primary care pediatrics
  • hospital-based prevention
  • public health interventions

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

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26 pages, 816 KB  
Systematic Review
Systematic Review: Efficacy, Safety Profile, and Cost-Effectiveness of Nirsevimab Versus Palivizumab for RSV Prevention in Children Under 24 Months
by Andreea Văduva, Alexandru Dinulescu, Anca Cristina Drăgănescu, Sorin Claudiu Man and Doina Anca Pleșca
Children 2026, 13(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13030331 - 26 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2532
Abstract
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants and young children, with significant morbidity, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. Passive immunoprophylaxis has historically relied on palivizumab, while nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, has recently [...] Read more.
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants and young children, with significant morbidity, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. Passive immunoprophylaxis has historically relied on palivizumab, while nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, has recently emerged as an alternative and has broader indications. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, real-world effectiveness analyses, and economic evaluations assessing the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of palivizumab and nirsevimab for RSV prevention in children under 24 months. Results: 41 studies were included in this review. Palivizumab demonstrated consistent efficacy in reducing RSV-related hospitalizations in high-risk infants, with relative risk reductions of approximately 45–55%. Nirsevimab showed higher relative efficacy, with reductions of 70–85% in RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations across randomized trials and real-world studies, including healthy term and late-preterm infants. Both monoclonal antibodies have favorable safety profiles, with adverse event rates comparable to the placebo. Economic analyses indicated that palivizumab is cost-effective primarily in narrowly defined high-risk populations, whereas nirsevimab may offer improved cost-effectiveness, particularly at lower acquisition prices and with seasonal administration strategies. Conclusions: Nirsevimab represents a promising advancement in RSV prevention, with broader protection, a simpler administration, and potential economic advantages compared to palivizumab. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Approaches to the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Children)
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