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A Case-Control Study on the Risk Factors for Meningococcal Disease among Children in Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou1, George Mpalaouras1, Vasiliki Vasilopoulou2
1Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Insights
Environmental factors like relocation, paternal smoking, recent infections, and household density significantly increase invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) risk in Greek children. Prevention strategies targeting these factors are recommended.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a significant public health concern in children.
- Identifying specific risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify environmental and genetic risk factors associated with IMD in children in Greece.
- To investigate the potential role of mannose binding lectin (MBL) in IMD susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 133 children (44 cases, 89 controls) aged 0-14 years in Athens.
- Data collected via questionnaires on demographics and risk factors.
- MBL2 gene haplotype analysis and MBL serum protein levels measured.
Main Results:
- Independent risk factors for IMD included life setting changes (OR=7.16), paternal smoking (OR=4.51), recent upper respiratory tract infection (OR=3.04), and household density (OR=3.16).
- A higher proportion of IMD patients (18.8%) had low-function MBL2 genotypes compared to controls (10.1%), though not statistically significant (p=0.189).
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors such as parental smoking and household crowding are significant risk factors for IMD in Greek children.
- Targeted prevention strategies focusing on these modifiable risk factors could reduce IMD incidence.
- While MBL2 genotype variations were observed, their association with IMD in this cohort requires further investigation.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to identify environmental or genetic risk factors that are associated with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in children in Greece.
Methods:
A case-control study was performed in 133 children (44 cases and 89 controls) aged between 0-14 years, who were hospitalized in a children's hospital in Athens. Demographics and possible risk factors were collected by the use of a structured questionnaire. To investigate the association of mannose binding lectin (MBL) with IMD, a frequency analysis of the haplotypes of the MBL2 gene and quantitative measurement of MBL serum protein levels were performed using Nanogen NanoChipR 400 technology and immuno-enzyme techniques, respectively.
Results:
The multivariate analysis revealed that changes in a child's life setting (relocation or vacation, OR = 7.16), paternal smoking (OR = 4.51), upper respiratory tract infection within the previous month (OR = 3.04) and the density of people in the house/100m2 (OR = 3.16), were independent risk factors associated with IMD. Overall 18.8% of patients had a MBL2 genotype with low functionality compared to 10.1% of healthy controls, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.189).
Conclusion:
Prevention strategies aimed at reducing parental smoking and other risk factors identified in this study could decrease the risk of IMD among children in Greece.
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