Previously unexplained acute symptoms of respiratory tract infection in pediatric outpatients may be associated with respiratory viruses and nasopharyngeal bacteria, specifically Moraxella catarrhalis, according to a recent study.

The researchers studied bacteria culture samples and PCR results from 426 pediatric outpatients aged 6 to 35 months with respiratory tract infections. Of those, 201 tested positive for acute otitis media. Study participants were analyzed for specific acute symptoms associated with respiratory tract infection such as fever, rhinitis, cough, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, earache and diarrhea.