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Alcohol during pregnancy worsens acute respiratory infections in children

Romina Libster1,2,3, Fausto M Ferolla1,2, Diego R Hijano1,3

  • 1Fundación INFANT, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|August 8, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is linked to severe respiratory infections in children. This risk is particularly elevated for boys, with higher alcohol intake correlating with increased severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to alcohol is a known risk factor for various developmental issues.
  • Respiratory infections are a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally.
  • The specific impact of maternal alcohol consumption on the risk of severe childhood respiratory infections requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the incidence of life-threatening respiratory infections in children.
  • To determine if the level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy influences the severity of respiratory infections in offspring.
  • To explore potential sex-based differences in the susceptibility to alcohol-related respiratory infection risks.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study was conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, involving children under two years old hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infections during 2011-2012.
  • Maternal alcohol consumption in the third trimester was assessed via standardized questionnaires and categorized as never, low (≤1/week), or high (≥1/week).
  • Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between maternal alcohol intake and life-threatening respiratory infections, adjusting for potential confounders.

Main Results:

  • Out of 3423 children, 2089 (63.7%) had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
  • Maternal alcohol consumption was reported by 12.4% of mothers, with 6.5% classified as low intake and 5.9% as high intake.
  • Higher maternal alcohol consumption was significantly associated with life-threatening respiratory infections, especially in boys, with adjusted odds ratios increasing substantially.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of life-threatening respiratory infections in children.
  • The association between prenatal alcohol exposure and severe respiratory illness is particularly pronounced in male infants.
  • These findings highlight the importance of advising pregnant individuals against alcohol consumption to mitigate risks to infant respiratory health.
Abstract

Keywords:
AlcoholLife-threatening diseasePregnancyRespiratory syncytial virusRespiratory tract infections

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