Prevention of recurrent respiratory infections

Table 1 Panel definition of RRIs

The criteria for defining a child with Recurrent Respiratory Infections (RRIs) in paediatric age ^a,b are:
▪ 1–3 years^c:
➢ 6 or more respiratory tract infections (1 of which may be pneumonia, including severe pneumonia) in a year or
➢ 2 mild cases^d of pneumonia confirmed by clinical criteria and/or x-ray in a year
▪ 3–6 years^c:
➢ 5 or more respiratory tract infections (1 of which may be pneumonia, including severe pneumonia) in a year or
➢ 2 mild cases of pneumonia confirmed by clinical criteria and/or x-ray in a year
▪ 6–12 years:
➢ 3 or more respiratory tract infections (1 of which may be pneumonia, including severe pneumonia) in a year or
➢ 2 mild cases of pneumonia confirmed by clinical criteria and/or x-ray in a year

^a Children with recurrent infections in one area only (e.g., recurrent rhinosinusitis, recurrent otitis media, recurrent wheezing or recurrent pharyngotonsillitis), with known primary or secondary immunodeficiencies (including IgA deficiency), cystic fibrosis and/or CFTR-pathies, primary ciliary dyskinesia, non-cystic fibrosis-related bronchiectasis, genetic disorders, known cardio-respiratory malformations, neuromuscular disorders and other pre-existing chronic lung diseases were excluded from this definition
^b This definition does not apply to children under 1 year of age
^c1–3 years = from 1 year to 2 years and 11 months; 3–6 years = from 3 years to 5 years and 11 months; 6–12 years = from 6 years to 11 years and 11 months
^d In accordance with the definition of the British Thoracic Society, partially modified

ISSN: 1824-7288