Children's nose contains clues about risk of lung infection, study finds

Examining the bacterial composition of a child's nose could help doctors improve the diagnosis and treatment of serious lung infections, scientists said.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that bacteria and viruses located at the back of the nose and throat of children with respiratory infections were different from those of children in healthy.

These differences indicate the severity of the illness and could help physicians predict the amount of time that the affected child must spend in the hospital.

In less severe cases, they could be helped to recover naturally, thus reducing the need for antibiotics.

Infections of the lower respiratory tract, including pneumonia and bronchiolitis, are one of the leading causes of death in children under five worldwide.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness and fever.

Professor Debby Bogaert of the Center for Research on Inflammation of the Medical Research Council of the University of Edinburgh, who led the study, said: "Pulmonary infections can be extremely serious in children and babies and are very distressing for parents.

"Our results show for the first time that the total microbial community of the respiratory tract – rather than a single virus or bacterium – is an essential indicator of respiratory health.

"This could really have an impact on how doctors diagnose LRTIs and use valuable antibiotics to fight infections."

The researchers worked with teams in the Netherlands to collect samples from over 150 children under six years old hospitalized with an LRTI and compared them with samples of healthy children.

They found that the 'microbiome' – the population of bacteria and viruses – in the back of the nose and throat was linked to that found in the lungs, making it easier to understand and diagnose infections.

Microbiome profiles allowed them to identify 92% of children as healthy or sick, combined with factors such as the age of the child.

He also provided a marker of the severity of the infection.

The study, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, is published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

– Press Association