Saliva tests can more accurately determine the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children than the standard blood test, a new study shows on Thursday.

Conducted by researchers from Radboudumc Amalia Children's Hospital and UMC Utrecht Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Netherlands, the study reveals that low levels of broadly protective antibodies in saliva are linked to an increased likelihood of pneumonia episodes in children. This method offers valuable diagnostic information and is more comfortable for children.