Pre-K and Elementary School Students Show Highest Rates of Respiratory Virus Detection

Recent research highlights that children in pre-kindergarten through elementary school have the highest rates of respiratory virus detection and episodes of acute respiratory illness (ARI). A comprehensive study published in the journal Pediatrics analyzed data collected from November 2022 to May 2023, involving over 800 participants including students and staff across various school levels. Participants self-reported symptoms and submitted nasal swabs, with each individual providing a median of seven specimens during the study period.

The findings revealed that approximately 85.5% of participants had at least one respiratory virus detected, and 80.4% experienced at least one episode of ARI. When adjusted per 100 enrollment days, the virus detection rates were highest among pre-K and elementary students, at 1.46 and 1.51 respectively, compared to middle, high school, and staff. Similarly, ARI rates were notably elevated in pre-K and elementary levels, with 1.66 and 1.19 episodes per 100 days, respectively.

Experts suggest that understanding these age-specific infection trends can aid in developing targeted prevention strategies to reduce transmission in schools. The study underscores the importance of tailored health measures in educational settings to better control the spread of respiratory illnesses among young children and staff.

For more detailed information, see the full study published in Pediatrics. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-pre-elementary-school-students-highest.html