Author Interviews, Infections, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Pediatrics / 18.02.2026
Sleep Apnea in Kids Associated with Increased Risk of COVID and Flu
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_72499" align="alignleft" width="174"] Dr. Gileles-Hillel[/caption]
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel MD
Founder and director of Gileles Lab
Hadassah Medical Center
Along with Dr. Joel Reiter MD from the Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University and Senior Pediatric Pulmonologists at the Hadassah Medical Center
with Dr. David Gozal MD, MBA, PhD from Marshall University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) experience increased morbidity, including cognitive difficulties, daytime dysfunction, and poorer academic performance, as well as a higher risk of future cardiometabolic disease such as hypertension and obesity. In addition, pediatric OSA has been shown to impair immune responses and alter immunologic function, although the clinical consequences of these changes remain incompletely understood.
Dr. Gileles-Hillel[/caption]
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel MD
Founder and director of Gileles Lab
Hadassah Medical Center
Along with Dr. Joel Reiter MD from the Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University and Senior Pediatric Pulmonologists at the Hadassah Medical Center
with Dr. David Gozal MD, MBA, PhD from Marshall University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) experience increased morbidity, including cognitive difficulties, daytime dysfunction, and poorer academic performance, as well as a higher risk of future cardiometabolic disease such as hypertension and obesity. In addition, pediatric OSA has been shown to impair immune responses and alter immunologic function, although the clinical consequences of these changes remain incompletely understood.
Dr. Freedman M.D.[/caption]
David O. Freedman, M.D.
Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases
Editor of the Textbook of Travel Medicine
World Health Organization—Member, Emergency Committee on Zika Virus
University of Alabama, Birmingham USA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this outbreak?
Response: India has reported 2 confirmed (PCR and ELISA) Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal State where the Kolkata megalopolis is located; the state borders Bangladesh. Symptom onset in both cases was late December 2025 in 2 health care workers. One patient has improved while the other remains in the ICU. All samples from 200 contact persons tested negative for NiV. No further confirmed cases have been detected in West Bengal
Bangladesh has reported 1 confirmed NiV case in Rajshahi Division which neighbors India. Symptom onset was January 21, 2026, and the patient expired on January 28. The patient reported no travel history but reported repeated consumption of raw date palm sap between 5 and 20 January. All 35 contact-persons are being monitored and have tested negative for NiV and no further cases have been detected to date.