Immune responses in the nose of 2–5-year-olds with flu
Official title: In-depth Analysis of the Immune Responses in the Upper Respiratory Tract of Influenza-infected Children
Run by University Hospital, Geneva · NCT06998264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 2 Years to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Geneva Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Geneva) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | November 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 31, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06998264 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.