Risk factors associated with the recall of a recent episode of acute respiratory infection (ARI) were evaluated in 1,553 Ecuadorian preschool children enrolled into a cross-sectional health and nutrition survey. In a univariate analysis, ARI recall was significantly higher in children living in low altitude regions (Relative Risk, RR = 2.4), in younger children (RR = 1.6), in children from larger families (RR = 1.3), in children with diarrhoea recall (RR = 1.9), in children served with poor quality drinking water (RR = 1.3) and in anaemic children (RR = 1.2) than that in the appropriate control groups. After taking into account the confounding effect of altitude, no association was found between ARI recall and low height-for-age values. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified living in low altitude regions, diarrhoea recall, and younger age as independent factors associated with a higher recall of ARI. In contrast to the recall of acute diarrhoea, no association between ARI recall and nutritional status was found. The impact of nutritional interventions in children from developing countries may be greater on enteric than on respiratory diseases.