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Infectious illnesses in the first two years of life
Insights
Most infants experience infectious illnesses, with otitis media being common. Eczema/allergy history increased total illnesses, while male sex, bottle feeding, and prior otitis media history were linked to recurrent ear infections in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Inner-city infants face significant risks for infectious illnesses.
- Understanding illness patterns and risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine infectious illness incidence in infants under 12 months.
- To correlate illness occurrences with infant/social attributes.
- To identify risk factors for specific infections like otitis media.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 279 inner-city infants (<12 months).
- Recorded infectious illnesses over one year.
- Analyzed correlations between illness episodes and personal/social factors.
Main Results:
- 8.6% of infants remained illness-free; average illnesses included 1 otitis media (OM) and 1 upper respiratory illness.
- 19% had >2 OM episodes; recurrent OM linked to male sex, bottle feeding, and prior OM history.
- History of eczema or allergy correlated with increased total illnesses.
Conclusions:
- Infant infectious illness, particularly OM, is highly prevalent.
- Specific factors increase risk for recurrent otitis media.
- Eczema/allergy history is a significant predictor of overall illness burden.
Abstract:
The number and types of infectious illnesses experienced in 1 year by 279 inner city infants younger than 12 months were examined and correlated with some personal and social attributes and the children. Only 24 (8.6%) infants incurred no infectious illnesses in 12 months. The children experienced an average of one episode of otitis media (OM), one upper respiratory illness and three total illnesses during the year. Only 7.5 and 2.2% of the children experienced more than two episodes of upper respiratory illnesses and gastroenteritis, respectively, but 19% of the infants incurred more than two episodes of OM. The months with the highest number of illnesses for both the entire cohort and the infants who were enrolled at 1 month or less of life were March-April and October-November. The months in which the fewest illnesses occurred were August-September for both groups. The only variable associated with an increased number of total illnesses was a personal history of eczema or allergy (P less than 0.01). No variables were found to be associated with the occurrences of pneumonia, gastroenteritis or upper respiratory illnesses. Multiple episodes of OM during the study period were associated with male sex (P less than 0.01), bottle feeding (p less than 0.05) and a history of OM before the onset of the study (P less than 0.01).