About this study
Viral infections that affect the lungs can make young children very sick and sometimes can even cause death. Young babies often end up in the hospital because of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or influenza virus (flu). But when they get COVID-19, it is usually not as bad as it is for older people. Some research shows that a baby's first response to flu can affect how their immune system fights future flu infections and vaccines. We do not yet know if getting COVID-19 or RSV early in life has a similar effect.
To find out more, we will study how early infections might shape the immune system as children grow.
We will follow 3 groups of children for 4 years:
- Infants and young children who had flu, COVID-19, or RSV during their first year
- Infants and young children who were exposed to COVID-19 while in their mother’s womb
- Healthy babies and young children who have not had these infections and were not exposed to COVID-19 before birth
For these children, we will collect blood and nasal swabs for up to 4 years after birth. We will also:
- Measure their height and weight
- Measure the amount of oxygen in their red blood cells
- Check their heart rate
- Measure their breathing rate
- Collect information about their overall health and clinical symptoms.
If your child gets sick with a respiratory infection, we will collect extra blood and a nasal swab.
What we learn could help us make btter vaccines and treatments to protect young children from these infections and related health problems.
Eligibility overview
- Group 1: Infants and young children under age 3 who currently have COVID-19, flu, or RSV or who had one of those infections during their first year
- Group 2: Infants and young children under age 3 who were exposed to COVID-19 while in their mother’s womb
- Group 3: Healthy babies and young children under age 3 who have not had these infections and were not exposed to COVID-19 before birth