Risks for upper respiratory infections in infants during their first months in day care included environmental and child-related factors

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risks for upper respiratory infections in infants during their first months in day care included environmental and child-related factors

AU - Laursen, Rikke Pilmann

AU - Larnkjær, Anni

AU - Ritz, Christian

AU - Hojsak, Iva

AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.

AU - Mølgaard, Christian

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 148

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - Aim: We examined the frequency and potential risk factors for respiratory infections, diarrhoea and absences in infants during their first months in day care. Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 269 Danish infants aged eight months to 14 months and was part of a study that examined how probiotics affected absences from day care due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The risk factors examined were the household, child characteristics and type of day care facility. Parents registered upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), diarrhoea and day care absences on web-based questionnaires. Results: Over a mean of 5.6 months in day care, 36% and 20% of the infants had at least one URTI or LRTI, and 60% had diarrhoeal episodes. The risk of at least one URTI was increased by previous respiratory infections, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.65, but was inversely associated with having a pet (OR: 0.43), being cared for by registered child minders compared to day care centres (OR: 0.36), birthweight (OR 0.40) and age at day care enrolment (OR: 0.64). No significant risk factors for LRTIs and diarrhoea were found. Conclusion: Infection risks were associated with environmental factors and factors related to the child.

AB - Aim: We examined the frequency and potential risk factors for respiratory infections, diarrhoea and absences in infants during their first months in day care. Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 269 Danish infants aged eight months to 14 months and was part of a study that examined how probiotics affected absences from day care due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The risk factors examined were the household, child characteristics and type of day care facility. Parents registered upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), diarrhoea and day care absences on web-based questionnaires. Results: Over a mean of 5.6 months in day care, 36% and 20% of the infants had at least one URTI or LRTI, and 60% had diarrhoeal episodes. The risk of at least one URTI was increased by previous respiratory infections, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.65, but was inversely associated with having a pet (OR: 0.43), being cared for by registered child minders compared to day care centres (OR: 0.36), birthweight (OR 0.40) and age at day care enrolment (OR: 0.64). No significant risk factors for LRTIs and diarrhoea were found. Conclusion: Infection risks were associated with environmental factors and factors related to the child.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Day care

KW - Diarrhoea

KW - Gastrointestinal infections

KW - Respiratory infections

KW - Risk factors

U2 - 10.1111/apa.14320

DO - 10.1111/apa.14320

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29542189

SN - 0803-5253

VL - 107

SP - 1616

EP - 1623

JO - Acta Paediatrica

JF - Acta Paediatrica

IS - 9

ER -