Topics and Trends in Most Cited Pediatric health and respiratory diseases Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Pediatric health and respiratory diseases research in the Class of 2026?

Respiratory syncytial virus, CFTR modulators, and influenza A virus define the Class of 2026 pediatric respiratory cohort, alongside cystic fibrosis and Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor. Influenza A virus, pediatric ICU admission, and COVID-19 pandemic impact rose sharply from Class of 2025, while F508del, the gut-lung axis, and CFTR modulator studies receded among top-cited papers.

See details ↓

Updated July 19, 2026

At a glance

Field
Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
5,250
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Respiratory syncytial virus, CFTR modulator, Cystic fibrosis, Influenza A virus
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
20–49
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 5,250
4918m citations

Microbial colonization programs are structured by breastfeeding and guide healthy respiratory development

Liat Shenhav et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.07.022

Liat Shenhav, Padmaja Subbarao, Michael G. Surette, Meghan B. AzadNew York University, United States

CHILD Cohort StudyNasal microbiotaGut microbiotabreastfeeding durationexclusive breastfeedingmaternal milk compositionmicrobial colonization patternspreschool asthmaRuminococcus gnavustryptophan biosynthesisearly breastfeeding cessationpaced microbial developmentrespiratory healthimmune modulationcritical developmental windowmilk componentsmicrobial species acquisitionmicrobial functions
Badge
#2 of 5,250
4718m citations

Antibiotic-driven dysbiosis in early life disrupts indole-3-propionic acid production and exacerbates allergic airway inflammation in adulthood

Olaf Perdijk et al.Immunity202410.1016/j.immuni.2024.06.010

Olaf Perdijk, Tomasz P. Wypych, Benjamin J. MarslandMonash University, Australia

antibiotic-driven dysbiosisearly life antibiotic exposureindole-3-propionic acidallergic airway inflammationmicrobiota-derived metabolitestryptophan metabolismAirway hyperresponsivenessneonatal microbiome disruptionimmune programmingaryl hydrocarbon receptorasthma susceptibilitymicrobial tryptophan catabolismGut-lung axis
Badge
#3 of 5,250
4318m citations

Birthmode and environment-dependent microbiota transmission dynamics are complemented by breastfeeding during the first year

Marta Selma-Royo et al.Cell Host & Microbe202410.1016/j.chom.2024.05.005

Nicola Segata, María Carmen ColladoSpanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain

vertical transmissionstrain trackingdelivery modevaginal deliverycesarean deliveryhospital birthhome birthBifidobacterium longumbreastfeeding durationHuman milk oligosaccharidesHMO degrading capabilitiessubspecies replacement patternsinfant gut colonizationearly-life microbiotamother-to-infant transmissiontransmission timingbirth environment
Badge
#4 of 5,250
4218m citations

Host and environmental factors shape upper airway microbiota and respiratory health across the human lifespan

Mari-Lee Odendaal et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.07.008

Debby Bogaert, Thijs BoschNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands

upper respiratory tract microbiotasaliva microbiotaOropharyngeal microbiotaNasopharyngeal microbiota16S rRNA sequencingPIENTER-3 cohortage-related microbiota maturationniche-specific associationssocial interaction effectsSeasonal variationantibiotic use impacttobacco use impactalcohol use impactcross-sectional population studylifespan microbiota dynamicsDutch populationrespiratory health outcomesMicrobiome composition
Badge
#5 of 5,250
3418m citations

Surge of Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections after the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Concept of “Immune Debt”

Lea Lenglart et al.The Journal of Pediatrics202410.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114420

Léa LenglartAssistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France

pediatric respiratory tract infectionsCOVID-19 pandemicimmunity debtnon-pharmaceutical interventionsinterrupted time-series analysispediatric emergency departmentgeneralized additive modelsDose-response relationshipsocial distancingpneumoniatonsillitispharyngitisbronchiolitisurinary tract infectionsmultinational surveillance systemNPI implementationNPI liftinginfection reboundcase reduction magnitude
Badge
#6 of 5,250
3318m citations

Nirsevimab and Acute Bronchiolitis Episodes in Pediatric Emergency Departments

David Andina Martínez et al.PEDIATRICS202410.1542/peds.2024-066584

David Andina MartínezHospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Spain

nirsevimabRespiratory syncytial virusRSV prophylaxisacute bronchiolitisLower respiratory tract infectionpediatric emergency departmentuniversal RSV prophylaxisextended catch-up immunizationhospital admissionspediatric intensive care unit admissioninfants younger than 6 months2023-2024 RSV seasonSpain immunization programRetrospective studyprophylaxis effectiveness
Badge
#7 of 5,250
3018m citations

Epidemiological characteristics of common respiratory pathogens in children

Guojian Lv et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-65006-3

Kai MuZibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital, China

PCR capillary electrophoresis fragment analysisStreptococcus pneumoniaeHaemophilus influenzaeMycoplasma pneumoniaeChlamydia pneumoniaeRhinovirusRespiratory syncytial virusInfluenza A virusParainfluenza virusHuman metapneumovirusHuman bocavirusHuman coronavirusInfluenza B virusCo-infectionAge-stratified analysisSeasonal variationsputum and respiratory sample detectionpediatric respiratory tract infectioncentral Shandong epidemiology
Badge
#8 of 5,250
2818m citations

Shotgun metagenomics and systemic targeted metabolomics highlight indole-3-propionic acid as a protective gut microbial metabolite against influenza infection

Séverine Heumel et al.Gut Microbes202410.1080/19490976.2024.2325067

Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo, François TrotteinUniv. Lille, France

Shotgun metagenomic sequencingMetabolomicsindole-3-propionic acidGut-lung axisInfluenza A virusLactobacillaceaeBifidobacteriaceaeAkkermansia muciniphilaShort-chain fatty acidspolyaminestryptophan metabolitestrimethylamineLimosilactobacillus reuteriLactobacillus animalisBacteroidales bacterium M7Viral loadIPA supplementationantibiotic treatmentlung inflammationdisease severity biomarker
Badge
#9 of 5,250
2818m citations

Pharmacological Improvement of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Function Rescues Airway Epithelial Homeostasis and Host Defense in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Jennifer Loske et al.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine202410.1164/rccm.202310-1836oc

Jennifer LoskeBerlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

CFTRElexacaftor/Tezacaftor/IvacaftorETIF508delnasal epithelial cellssingle-cell RNA sequencingionocytesclub cellsgoblet cellsbasal cellsIFN signalingmajor histocompatibility complex class Imajor histocompatibility complex class IIneutrophilsmacrophagesairway epithelial homeostasismucosal immunityCFTR modulator
Badge
#10 of 5,250
2618m citations

Type 1 Immune Responses Related to Viral Infection Influence Corticosteroid Response in Asthma

John V Fahy et al.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine202410.1164/rccm.202402-0403oc

John V FahyUniversity of California San Francisco, United States

type 1 immune responsesType 2 immunitycorticosteroid responseviral infectionT2-high asthma endotypeT1-high asthma endotypeT1/T2-high asthmaSARP-3sputum cell RNAwhole-transcriptome gene network analysisviral metagenomic analysistriamcinolone acetonidecorticosteroid resistanceFEV1respiratory virus detectionsubclinical viral infectionasthma severity outcomesT1 gene expressionT2 gene expression
Badge
#11 of 5,250
2418m citations

A lymphocyte chemoaffinity axis for lung, non-intestinal mucosae and CNS

Borja Ocón, Menglan Xiang, Yuhan Bi, Junliang Pan et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08043-2

Borja Ocón, Menglan Xiang, Yuhan BiStanford University, United States

lymphocyte chemoaffinitylung homingnon-intestinal mucosaeCNS traffickingtissue-specific lymphocyte migrationmucosal immunitychemokine receptorstissue tropismlymphocyte subsetsvascular addressinsintegrin expressionhoming receptorcentral nervous system immunity
Badge
#12 of 5,250
2418m citations

Androgen signaling restricts glutaminolysis to drive sex-specific Th17 metabolism in allergic airway inflammation

Nowrin U Chowdhury et al.Journal of Clinical Investigation202410.1172/jci177242

Nowrin U ChowdhuryDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, France

androgen receptor signalingglutaminolysisTh17 cellssex differencesallergic airway inflammationasthmamitochondrial respirationglutamine transportersglutamine uptakeCD4+ T cellsallergen-induced airway inflammationTh17-mediated inflammationT cell metabolismandrogen receptormetabolic regulation
Badge
#13 of 5,250
2318m citations

Multisystemic Effects of Elexacaftor–Tezacaftor–Ivacaftor in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis and Advanced Lung Disease

Pierre-Régis Burgel et al.Annals of the American Thoracic Society202410.1513/annalsats.202312-1065oc

Pierre-Régis BurgelUniversité Paris Cité, France

Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftorcystic fibrosisadvanced lung diseaseppFEV1 ≤40CFTR modulatorcystic fibrosis liver diseasecystic fibrosis-related diabetesFEV1body mass indexvitamin Avitamin E25-hydroxy vitamin D3oxygen therapynoninvasive ventilationnutritional supportinsulin discontinuationLung transplantationinhaled antibiotics
Badge
#14 of 5,250
2318m citations

Impact of COVID‑19 pandemic restrictions and subsequent relaxation on the prevalence of respiratory virus hospitalizations in children

Ahmed Abushahin et al.BMC Pediatrics202410.1186/s12887-024-04566-9

Ahmed AbushahinSidra Medicine, Qatar

COVID-19 pandemic restrictionsrespiratory virus hospitalizationsviral acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI)Respiratory syncytial virusRhinoviruschildren ≤ 36 monthspediatric intensive care unit admissionrespiratory support requirementslength of stayviral detection ratespandemic-imposed restrictions relaxationrespiratory virus epidemiologywinter seasonalityQatar pediatric populationRSV resurgenceviral pathogen circulation changes
Badge
#15 of 5,250
2218m citations

Oral probiotic extracellular vesicle therapy mitigates Influenza A Virus infection via blunting IL-17 signaling

Hongxia Zhou et al.Bioactive Materials202410.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.11.016

Yuhua Liu, Zifeng Yang, Caiwen OuSouthern Medical University, China

probiotic extracellular vesiclesInfluenza A virusIL-17 signalingLimosilactobacillus reuteriLrEVsintestinal mucosal damageMicrobiome compositionShort-chain fatty acidsmiR-4239IL-17ATh17 cell differentiationIL-17-producing ILCsoral administrationGut-lung axisAnti-inflammatory mechanismFISH analysisH1N1 influenza virusgut-lung immunity
Badge
#16 of 5,250
2118m citations

Safety and Immunogenicity of an mRNA-Based hMPV/PIV3 Combination Vaccine in Seropositive Children

Sabine Schnyder Ghamloush et al.PEDIATRICS202410.1542/peds.2023-064748

Christine A. ShawModerna, Inc., United States

mRNA-1653Human metapneumovirusparainfluenza virus type 3PIV3mRNA vaccinemembrane-anchored fusion proteinsseropositive childrenneutralizing antibody titerspreF binding antibodypostF binding antibodyhMPV-AhMPV-Bgeometric mean fold-riseobserver-blind placebo-controlleddose-ranging study10-μg dose30-μg dosepreF biasprime-boost regimen
Badge
#17 of 5,250
2118m citations

A lactobacilli-based inhaled live biotherapeutic product attenuates pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation

Teodora Nicola, Nancy Wenger et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-51169-0

Charitharth Vivek LalUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, United States

bronchopulmonary dysplasiaChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseacetylated proline-glycine-prolineAc-PGP pathwayNeutrophil infiltrationinhaled live biotherapeutic productLactobacillusfirmicute depletionMMP-9/PGP pathwaymatrix metalloproteinase-9hyperoxiavolutraumapulmonary neutrophilic inflammationlung tissue degradationmurine models of BPDgain- and loss-of-function studiespro-inflammatory markerslung structure and functionpulmonary microbial signature
Badge
#18 of 5,250
2118m citations

Human metapneumovirus infection is associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality burden in adult inpatients

Quentin Philippot et al.Heliyon202410.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33231

Quentin Philippot, Guillaume VoiriotSorbonne Université, France

Human metapneumovirusLower respiratory tract infectionadult inpatientsMultiplex PCRcomplicated courseinvasive mechanical ventilationhospital deathbacterial coinfectionpneumoniaacute bronchitisacute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseground glass opacitylung CT-scanimmunocompromised patientsenterobacteriapediatric intensive care unit admissiontachycardiaalteration of consciousnessempirical antibiotic therapy
Badge
#19 of 5,250
2118m citations

Evaluation of elexacaftor–tezacaftor–ivacaftor treatment in individuals with cystic fibrosis and CFTRN1303K in the USA: a prospective, multicentre, open-label, single-arm trial

George M Solomon et al.The Lancet Respiratory Medicine202410.1016/s2213-2600(24)00205-4

George M. SolomonUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, United States

Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftorcystic fibrosisCFTR N1303KCFTR modulatortriple combination therapyprospective trialmulticenter studyopen-label trialsingle-arm trialrare CFTR mutationnonsense mutationlung functionSweat chloride concentrationpulmonary exacerbationsquality of life assessment
Badge
#20 of 5,250
2018m citations

Metabolic Modulation-Mediated Antibiotic and Immune Activation for Treatment of Chronic Lung Infections

Weijun Xiu et al.ACS Nano202410.1021/acsnano.4c03527

Lihui Yuwen, Yongbin Mou, Lianhui WangNanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilmChronic airway infectionantimicrobial tolerancemetabolic modulationultrasound-responsive liposomal nanoparticlessonosensitizerhypoxia-activated prodrugreactive oxygen species generationoxygen consumption-mediated hypoxiaanaerobic metabolismantibiotic activationglycolysis pathwayimmune cell inflammatory activationaberrant host inflammatory responseultrasound stimulationbiofilm-associated infections
Badge

Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Pediatric health and respiratory diseases

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The informative word cloud across the 50 highest 18-month-cited pediatric health and respiratory diseases papers reveals a field shaped by acute viral infections and cystic fibrosis therapeutics. Respiratory syncytial virus leads with a normalized frequency of 0.16, reflecting sustained interest in RSV epidemiology and prophylaxis. CFTR modulator and Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor each appear with a frequency of 0.12, underscoring ongoing focus on triple-combination therapy outcomes in pediatric cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis itself also ranks prominently (0.12). A secondary cluster features Influenza A virus (0.10), capturing post-pandemic viral epidemiological analyses. Smaller but notable terms include allergic airway inflammation, pediatric intensive care unit admission, and co-infection, signaling that influential 2024 work spans severe infection epidemiology, host-microbe interactions, and the continued evaluation of novel CFTR therapeutics.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing normalized concept frequencies between the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) and Class of 2026 (2024 publications) cohorts shows a pronounced reorientation toward acute viral respiratory disease and severe infection outcomes. Influenza A virus exhibited the largest gain, alongside pediatric intensive care unit admission, allergic airway inflammation, and COVID-19 pandemic impact. These topics align with immunity-debt discourse and the epidemiology of rebound viral infections following the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Conversely, F508del showed the steepest decline among leading terms, even as general cystic fibrosis and Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor topics remained prominent. Airway inflammation, the gut-lung axis, CFTR modulator, and asthma also receded modestly. Together, these shifts suggest that the most-cited 2024 pediatric respiratory papers emphasize severe post-pandemic viral epidemiology and acute care outcomes over standalone molecular and microbiome studies that held more weight in the prior cohort.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Pediatric health and respiratory diseases Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/pediatric-health-and-respiratory-diseases/2026. Accessed 2026-08-20.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459