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Early-Life Infection Burden Linked to Risk for Later Infections

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 9, 2025.

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2025 -- Early-life infection burden is associated with an increased risk for later moderate-to-severe infections and systemic antibiotic treatments to age 10 or 13 years, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Network Open.

Nicklas Brustad, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal cohort study of children from birth to age 10 or 13 years using data from the Danish population-based Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood birth cohort between November 2008 and November 2010 to examine whether early-life infection burden is associated with later risk for infection.

A total of 614 children with diary-registered common infection episodes of cold, acute otitis media, tonsillitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and fever episodes from birth to 3 years had completed follow-up to age 10 or 13 years. The researchers found that the risks for later moderate-to-severe infections and systemic antibiotic treatments until age 10 or 13 years were increased for children with a high versus low burden of diary-registered infections between birth and 3 years (adjusted incidence rate ratios [AIRRs], 2.39 and 1.34, respectively). The later risk for moderate-to-severe infections and systemic antibiotic treatments was increased with each diary infection episode (AIRRs, 1.05 and 1.02, respectively).

"These findings may be important for prognosis and follow-up of children experiencing a high burden of common infections in early life," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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