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Prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in Aboriginal children: A whole population studyThe burden of bronchiectasis is disproportionately high in Aboriginal adults, with early mortality. Bronchiectasis precursors, that is, protracted bacterial bronchitis and chronic suppurative lung disease, often commence in early childhood.

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RSV responsible for one out of every 50 childhood deaths worldwideThe urgency for a world-first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is at an all-time high.
Research
Immunogenicity, otitis media, hearing impairment, and nasopharyngeal carriage 6-months after 13-valent or ten-valent booster pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, stratified by mixed priming schedules: PREVIX_COMBO and PREVIX_BOOST randomised controlled trialsAustralian First Nations children are at very high risk of early, recurrent, and persistent bacterial otitis media and respiratory tract infection. With the PREVIX randomised controlled trials, we aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) schedules.
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Cord-blood respiratory syncytial virus antibodies and respiratory health in first 5 years of lifeTo determine the potential longer-term effects of maternal antenatal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination, we examined the association between cord-blood RSV-neutralizing antibodies (RSV-NA) and RSV infections in the first 2 years of life, RSV-NA at 3 years, and respiratory health to age 5 years.
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Strain Evolution and Mutations in Western Australia in the Context of Nirsevimab ProphylaxisNirsevimab is a long-acting monoclonal antibody used to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants and high-risk children. During the 2024 RSV season in Western Australia, 21 922 doses were administered to infants entering their first season and 1221 doses to at-risk children. In this context, the selection and spread of escape variants are a potential concern. This study aimed to investigate nirsevimab binding site mutations using clinical and wastewater data.
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Preoperative preparation of children with upper respiratory tract infection: a focussed narrative reviewThis review summarises the current evidence for the perioperative preparation in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), including COVID-19 infection. URTI, including COVID-19 infection, are common and frequent in children who present for elective surgery. Children with URTI are at increased risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events.

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Global study finds human air travel culprit for RSV variant spreadGlobal circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is shaped by human air travel with travellers hosting new strains fuelling transmission across borders, an international The Kids Research Institute Australia study found.

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RSV vaccine for pregnant women provides protection for babies: studyA world-first study has found a new vaccine against potentially deadly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is safe and effective for use in pregnant women, to help protect their babies.

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RSV prevention finally in reach after 20 years of research at The Kids Research Institute AustraliaWorld-first immunisations providing protection against deadly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could be just months away thanks to global research efforts spanning multiple decades.
Research
Examining the interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Western AustraliaFollowing a relative absence in winter 2020, a large resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections occurred during the 2020/2021 summer in Western Australia. This seasonal shift was linked to SARS-CoV-2 public health measures. We examine the epidemiology and RSV testing of respiratory-coded admissions, and compare clinical phenotype of RSV-positive admissions between 2019 and 2020.