P-670. Absenteeism due to Viral Acute Respiratory Infections in Children, 2024-2025

TL;DR

This study examines how often children miss daycare or school due to viral respiratory infections and how these absences affect household members.

Contribution

The study provides detailed data on virus-specific absenteeism in children across different age groups and settings.

Findings

70% of children with ARIs missed at least one day of daycare or school.

RSV and influenza were the leading causes of absenteeism in younger children.

Household work absenteeism was higher for younger children compared to older ones.

Abstract

Acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) are a common reason for daycare or school absence in children. We assessed virus-specific absenteeism due to ARIs in children enrolled in a medically attended surveillance study and a community cohort.

ARIs were identified in children (< 18 years) seeking medical care for ARIs (6/1/2024-3/18/2025) or from a community cohort (9/29/2024-4/3/2025). Adenovirus, influenza, seasonal coronavirus (sCoV), human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV), RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 were detected from respiratory swabs by RT-PCR. Surveys completed approximately 2 weeks after an ARI assessed absenteeism: total missed days (from daycare/school for infected children and from work for household members)/total infections. Viral coinfections were excluded.

Among 363 infected < 5-year-olds, 38% had household members miss ≥ 1 workday due to the child’s viral ARI. 69% of daycare attendees (137/198) missed ≥ 1 day. 28%, 17%, and 17% of attendees were absent due to RV/EV, RSV, and influenza, contributing to 22%, 22%, and 18% of total daycare days missed, respectively. Daycare absenteeism ranged from 1.5 days/ARI for RV/EV to 3.5 days/ARI for RSV.

Among 209 infected 5-12-year-olds, 42% had household members miss ≥ 1 workday due to the child’s viral ARI. 70% of school attendees 5-12 years (130/185) missed ≥ 1 day. 37% and 35% of children were absent due to influenza and RV/EV, contributing to 45% and 32% of total school days missed, respectively. School absenteeism ranged from 1.0 days/ARI for sCoV to 3.6 days/ARI for influenza.

Among 131 infected 13-17-year-olds, 23% had household members miss ≥ 1 workday due to the child’s viral ARI. 69% of school attendees 13-17 years (75/108) missed ≥ 1 day. 40% and 33% of children were absent due to RV/EV and influenza, contributing to 41% and 34% of total school days missed, respectively. School absenteeism ranged from 0.8 days/ARI for sCoV to 2.3 days/ARI for influenza.

Absenteeism was generally higher for children who sought care vs no care for their viral ARI.

In 2024-2025, approximately 70% of children with ARI across all ages missed ≥1 day of daycare or school. Viral ARIs in younger children resulted in higher work absenteeism by household members than viral ARIs in older children.

Huong Q. Nguyen, PhD, MPH, CSL Seqirus: Advisor/Consultant|CSL Seqirus: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|ModernaTX: Advisor/Consultant|ModernaTX: Grant/Research Support Jennifer P. King, MPH, GSK: Grant/Research Support|ModernaTX, Inc.: Grant/Research Support Gigi Zheng, MD, PhD, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Oluwakemi Alonge, MPH, CPH, CSL Seqirus: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|ModernaTX: Grant/Research Support Emma Viscidi, PhD, MHS, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Chelsea Canan, PhD, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Catherine A. Panozzo, PhD, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Darshan Mehta, PhD, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Wen-Hsing Wu, MS, Moderna: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Meng Wang, PhD, ModernaTX: Employee|ModernaTX: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Jennifer K. Meece, PhD, CSL Seqirus: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|ModernaTX: Grant/Research Support Evan J. Anderson, MD, Moderna: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Joshua Petrie, PhD, CSL Seqirus: Advisor/Consultant|CSL Seqirus: Grant/Research Support|ModernaTX: Grant/Research Support