Can risk factors for infectious illnesses in children at day care centres be identified?

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. BACKGROUND: The risk factors for febrile, respiratory, and gastrointestinal illnesses in preschool children at day care centres have not been adequately identified and may differ between c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Main Authors: Gudnason, Thorolfur, Hrafnkelsson, Birgir, Laxdal, Brynja, Kristinsson, Karl G
Other Authors: Landspitali University Hospital, Directorate of Health
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Aging
Child
Child Day Care Centers
Preschool
Communicable Diseases
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Iceland
Logistic Models
Male
Risk Factors
Seasons
Superior Sagittal Sinus
Time Factors
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2336/237954
https://doi.org/10.3109/00365548.2011.599331
Description
Summary:To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. BACKGROUND: The risk factors for febrile, respiratory, and gastrointestinal illnesses in preschool children at day care centres have not been adequately identified and may differ between countries. METHODS: In this repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal study of children at day care centres, we analyzed various potential risk factors for infectious illnesses using a mixed effect hierarchical Poisson regression model. The results of the analyses and the incidence rates of these illnesses are reported herein. RESULTS: The study lasted 2.5 y (2000-2003) and was divided into five 6-month periods (seasons). Nine hundred and seventeen children participated, and their mean age within each season was 3.6-4.1 y. The only consistent risk factors identified were young age and winter season. No consistent risk factors at the day care centres (facilities or hygiene practices) were identified. The incidences of the febrile, respiratory, and gastrointestinal illnesses varied significantly between seasons (winter/summer) and between age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors of infectious illnesses are difficult to identify and because they may vary between countries, international recommendations on expensive intervention strategies are not justifiable. Rates of respiratory illnesses in Icelandic preschool children appear higher than in other countries, but rates of gastrointestinal illnesses lower. European Commission QLK2-CT-2000-01020 European Resistance and Intervention Study (EURIS) Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS)

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