Immune responses in the nose of 2–5-year-olds with flu
In-depth Analysis of the Immune Responses in the Upper Respiratory Tract of Influenza-infected Children
University Hospital, Geneva · NCT06998264
This project will test how the nasal immune system reacts to influenza in children aged 2–5 by collecting nasal, saliva, and blood samples during illness and one month later.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 2 Years to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Geneva (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Geneva) |
| Trial ID | NCT06998264 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study enrolls children aged 2–5 with laboratory-confirmed influenza and collects samples within 72 hours of hospital admission and again about one month later. Collected samples include blood, nasal lining fluid, nasal cells, and saliva, with nasal lining fluid and saliva sampled at multiple time points during the acute illness. The study will quantify inflammatory responses in the nose, measure viral load, and correlate these findings with clinical symptoms and blood measures. Results will be compared to control children without infection or children vaccinated via the nasal route recruited in a mirror study in Oxford.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 2–5 years with clinical signs of influenza and a positive laboratory test, who are not immunosuppressed and do not have RSV or SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children who are immunosuppressed, receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, or who have RSV or SARS-CoV-2 co-infection are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help link nasal immune signatures to disease severity and recovery, informing better-targeted treatments or vaccine strategies for young children.
How similar studies have performed: Related nasal immunology studies in older children and adults have yielded useful insights, but detailed upper-respiratory tract profiling in very young children remains relatively limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Aged 2-5 years * Presenting clinical signs of an influenza-like illness * Having a concomitant positive laboratory test for influenza. Exclusion criteria: * Immunosuppression * Intubation or under invasive mechanical ventilation * Co-infection with RSV or SARS-CoV-2
Where this trial is running
Geneva
- Geneva University Hospitals — Geneva, Switzerland (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Arnaud Didierlaurent, PhD — University of Geneva, Switzerland
- Study coordinator: Jennifer Villers, PhD
- Email: jennifer.villers@hug.ch
- Phone: +41 79 553 88 86
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Influenza Infection