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Risk factors for respiratory infections among children attending day care centres

Ana S Alexandrino1, Rita Santos2, Cristina Melo2

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and Department of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. ama@estsp.ipp.pt.

Family Practice
|February 18, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Daycare attendance increases upper respiratory infection risk due to center factors. Lower respiratory infections link to household and maternal factors, while acute otitis media risk is tied to child-specific factors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), and acute otitis media (AOM) are prevalent in children attending daycare.
  • Identifying risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the specific risk factors associated with URTI, LRTI, and AOM in children attending daycare centers.
  • To differentiate between daycare-related, household-related, mother-related, and child-related risk factors for these common childhood infections.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 152 children aged up to 3 years across six daycare centers in Porto.
  • Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess independent variables (mother, household, child, and daycare factors) as predictors of URTI, LRTI, and AOM.

Main Results:

  • URTI risk was associated with daycare crowding and disinfection practices; nasal aspirator use increased risk. LRTI risk was linked to smaller household size, lack of siblings, and non-exclusive breastfeeding. AOM risk correlated with birth BMI, weight, and nasal aspirator use.
  • Specific risk factors were identified for each condition: URTI with daycare environment, LRTI with maternal and household factors, and AOM with child-specific characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Daycare-associated factors significantly influence URTI risk.
  • Maternal and household factors play a key role in LRTI development.
  • Child-related factors are primarily associated with the risk of AOM.
Abstract

Keywords:
At-risk groupsearhealth promotionnose and throat (ENT, otolaryngology)paediatricsupper respiratory infections/common cold/bronchitis.

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