Air pollution exposure and the burden of pediatric upper respiratory tract infections in emergency departments: a retrospective time-series study.

ABSTRACT: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are a major public health problem and a leading cause of pediatric Emergency Department (ED) visits. Approximately 81% of emergency outpatient visits in children are due to URTI, and respiratory diseases account for 12% of all deaths worldwide. Air pollution is considered an important factor contributing to the increased incidence of respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to examine the association between ambient air pollutant concentrations and the number of pediatric ED admissions for URTI. We conducted a retrospective analysis including 2,572 children admitted to the ED between 2015 and 2020 with a diagnosis of URTI. Daily concentrations of particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x and

SUBMITTER: Wawryk-Gawda E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12612014 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature