Abstract
Respiratory tract diseases are among the most common acute infectious diseases, and their incidence is associated with geographic, age and seasonal factors. Although generally self‑limiting in adults, these diseases are a leading cause of death in infants, the elderly and individuals with immune system deficiencies, and represent a major cause of mortality in Chinese children. There is a clear association between abnormalities in the gut microbiota in childhood and the development of immune and metabolic disorders later in life. Some studies have shown that the gut microbiota and its metabolites can effectively prevent and mitigate respiratory tract diseases. However, the composition of the gut microbiota in children differs from that in adults, and research on the interaction between the gut microbiota and respiratory tract diseases in children remains limited. The present review discusses the development of the gut microbiota in early life and its role in pediatric respiratory tract diseases, highlighting its influence on respiratory health and the gut‑lung axis. Probiotic treatments are also discussed. While they are considered a promising approach, their widespread clinical application faces challenges with regard to safety and individual variability.