title: [Recurrent lower respiratory tract infection in children: when and how should they be investigated?].
abstract: Children with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections are often a challenge for their physicians. This article reviews the differential diagnosis of recurrent cough, bronchopneumonia and/or pneumonia in children and emphasizes on the necessity of preventing long-term complications of these infections. It also suggests a step-wise immunological work-up, which includes investigating a possible immune maturation delay or deficiency which could explain these symptoms. This work-up focuses on measuring antibody responses to pneumococci, followed by immunization when necessary, to rule out B cell dysfunction. Finally, this article also describes an upcoming study in Switzerland which will evaluate in 2005 the clinical and immunological outcome of these young patients.
authors.affiliation: Département de pédiatrie, Hôpital des enfants, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 1211 Genève 14. Klara.PosfayBarbe@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pósfay Barbe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barazzone-Argiroffo
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Siegrist
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial