Respiratory infections in schoolchildren: co-morbidity and risk factors

Abstract

Aims: To assess co-morbidity and risk factors for otitis media, tonsillopharyngitis, and lower respiratory infections in school children. Methods: Logistic regression analysis of co-morbidity and risk factors for airway infections in a population based sample of 10 year old children living in Oslo, Norway. Main outcome measures: otitis media, tonsillopharyngitis, and lower respiratory infections in past 12 months. Results: Airway infections in 10 year old children were common, and significant co-morbidity was found between the various airway infections. Home dampness was a risk factor for all infections, adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.2 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) to 1.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.6) for otitis media and tonsillopharyngitis respectively. Atopic disease was a constitutional risk factor, particularly strong for lower airway infections (adjusted odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.1). African or Asian ethnicities were associated with the airway infections, adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.2 (95% CI 0.9 to 1.7) to 1.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.3). Conclusions: Respiratory tract infections were common in 10 year old children. There was substantial comorbidity between upper and lower airway infections. Environmental and constitutional factors were identified and positively associated with the infections. Results support the hypothesis of 1957 that the whole respiratory tract is one unit.

Early acute otitis media: Predictor for AOM and respiratory infections in schoolchildren?

“…High early life incidence as well as high spontaneous recovery rate may reflect that the disease occurs as a natural complication to early pathogen exposure, most likely as part of the gradual maturation of the child's immune system [7]. A number of studies have found AOM to be highly prevalent during early childhood [8], and a recent report has also found AOM common in schoolchildren [9]. In addition, previous studies have shown that early AOM is a risk factor for later AOM and otitis media with effusion (OME) the first few years of childhood [3,6,10,11].…”

Surgery for otitis media and infectious susceptibility in 10-year old school children

“…There are few long-term reports on susceptibility for otitis media in previously operated children [8]. There are many reports on how otitis media affects young children in their first years, but few have focused on morbidity in school children [9,10]. Community-based surveys have been designed to study otitis media in large populations; reported otitis media has been found to be a reliable measure of disease, but reliability of parental reported upper airway surgery has to our knowledge not been evaluated recently [1,11,12].…”

Solving mould and condensation problems: A dehumidifier trial in a suburban house in Britain

“…Moulds take nutrient from the organic matter they rest on, causing deterioration of fabrics, décor and structural materials. While it is difficult to state confidently the direct causal links between mould and ill health (Kolstad et al, 2002), there is a high correlation between the two (Howden-Chapman et al, 2005, Koskinen et al, 1999Karevold et al, 2006), and health literature tends to take a precautionary approach. High concentrations of house dust mites, which do exacerbate respiratory illness, are also associated with high humidity and condensation (Hyndman, et al 2000).…”