Semmelweis University experts explain rise in childhood respiratory infections

The seasonal increase in respiratory infections among children following the start of the school year is primarily driven by increased social contact rather than a weakened immune system. According to Dr. Laura Kossuth, a specialist at Semmelweis University's Pediatric Clinic, the transition from summer to September brings children back into crowded, enclosed environments like classrooms and kindergartens, which facilitates the spread of viruses.

Other contributing factors include changes in daily routines, such as earlier wake-up times, reduced sleep, less time spent outdoors, and the psychological stress of returning to a community setting. While various respiratory viruses circulate in the autumn, RSV and influenza typically become more prominent later in the season.

Because many symptoms—including runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and fever—overlap across different pathogens, it is often difficult to identify the specific cause based on symptoms alone. Experts note that since most of these infections are viral, antibiotics are generally unnecessary unless a bacterial infection is present.