[Risk factors for the development of germ cell tumors in children]

The search for risk factors for development of germ cell tumors (GCT) in children who lived in Mexico City (MC). A protective, observational, case-control study was conducted in children under 15 years of age resident in MC, insurer by the Mexican Institute of Social Security. The study population was selected between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 1994. Parents of the children were interviewed with a 230-items precoded questionnaire, validated previously with a pilot study. For analysis were obtained simple frequencies and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). There were 21 cases and 105 controls. The most significant risk factors were winter conception (OR = 7.6, 95% CI 1.5-39.3; P = 0.007); low parental education level (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.5; P = 0.026); and parental combined dust and electricity exposure before pregnancy (OR = 26, 95% CI 2.28-1291.86; P = 0.0007). during (OR8.58, 95% CI 0.89-106.55; P = 0.041) and after pregnancy (OR = 9.66, 95% CI 0.99-120.22; P = 0.027). There was a protective effect with repetitive infections during infancy. In conclusion, Winter conception is in accordance with infectious etiology theory of GCT development. The low parental education level and the combined exposure to dust and electricity are very important. The protective effect of repetitive infections and other factors make necessary more epidemiologic studies in this field.