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Risk factors for respiratory tract infections in children aged 2-5 years
G Forssell1, A Håkansson, N O Månsson
1Department of Community Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Children attending daycare centers face a significantly higher risk of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). This study highlights daycare as a key risk factor for childhood RTIs, impacting doctor visits and antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common in young children.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate risk factors associated with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children aged 2-5 years.
- To determine the impact of various factors, including childcare, on RTI incidence.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted over one year.
- Data collected included doctor visits and antibiotic courses for RTIs.
- Risk factors analyzed: age, sex, birth weight, breastfeeding, atopy, siblings, smoking, and childcare arrangements.
- 190 preschool children from Oxie health centre, Sweden, participated.
Main Results:
- Children attending daycare centers had a higher risk of consulting a doctor for RTIs (adjusted OR 2.78).
- Daycare attendance also increased the risk of antibiotic treatment for RTIs (adjusted OR 2.73).
Conclusions:
- Attending a daycare center is identified as the most significant risk factor for RTIs in children aged 2-5 years.
- This finding underscores the importance of considering childcare settings in pediatric respiratory health strategies.
Objective:
To study risk factors for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children aged 2-5 years.
Design:
A questionnaire was used to chart the number of visits to doctors and the number of antibiotics courses because of RTIs during a 1-year period. The risk factors studied were age, sex, birth weight, breastfeeding, atopy, siblings, smoking and childcare.
Setting:
The catchment area of Oxie health centre in southern Sweden.
Subjects:
190 pre-school children.
Main Outcome Measures:
Number of visits to doctors and number of antibiotics courses.
Results:
The risk of having to consult a doctor, as well as the risk of receiving treatment with antibiotics, because of RTIs was greater among children at daycare centres than among children who were mostly at home (adjusted OR 2.78 (95% CI 1.34-5.78) and 2.73 (1.38-5.43), respectively).
Conclusion:
Attending a daycare centre is the most important risk factor for RTIs in children aged 2-5 years.