Risks for upper respiratory infections in infants during their first months in day care included environmental and child-related factors

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Aim: We examined the frequency and potential risk factors for respiratory infections, diarrhoea and absences in infants during their first months in day care.

Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 269 Danish infants aged 8-14 months and was part of a study that examined how probiotics affected absences from day care due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The risk factors examined were the household, child characteristics and type of day care facility. Parents registered upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), diarrhoea and day care absences on web-based questionnaires.

Results: Over a mean of 5.6 months in day care, 36% and 20% of the infants had at least one URTI or LRTI and 60% had diarrhoeal episodes. The risk of at least one URTI was increased by previous respiratory infections, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.65, but was inversely associated with having a pet (OR 0.43), being cared for by registered child minders compared to day care centres (OR 0.36), birth weight (OR 0.40) and age at day care enrolment (OR 0.64). No significant risk factors for LRTIs and diarrhoea were found.

Conclusions: Infection risks were associated with environmental factors and factors related to the child. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Paediatrica
Volume107
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1616-1623
Number of pages8
ISSN0803-5253
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Science - Day care, Diarrhoea, Gastrointestinal infections, Respiratory infections, Risk factors

ID: 193286772