Early-Life Infection Burden Linked to Risk for Later Infections
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
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.
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.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2025
Read this next
AAP Updates Screening Guidance for Child Mental Health, Behavioral Problems
MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 -- In a clinical report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published online Aug. 25 in Pediatrics, updated recommendations are presented for...
Discordance Seen Between Care Goals, Treatment Intent in Advanced Cancer
MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 -- More patients with advanced cancer report that their treatment discordantly focuses on longevity over comfort than patients with other illnesses...
Apitegromab Improves Motor Function in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 -- For patients with nonambulatory type 2 or type 3 spinal muscular atrophy, apitegromab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits myostatin activation, improves...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.