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Risks for upper respiratory infections in infants during their first months in day care included environmental and child‐related factors
Author(s) -
Laursen Rikke Pilmann,
Larnkjær Anni,
Ritz Christian,
Hojsak Iva,
Michaelsen Kim,
Mølgaard Christian
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.14320
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory tract infections , pediatrics , odds ratio , day care , cohort study , prospective cohort study , respiratory infection , diarrhea , upper respiratory infections , respiratory system , nursing
Abstract 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.