A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Daycare attendance and respiratory tract infections: A prospective birth cohort study




AuthorsSchuez-Havupalo L., Toivonen L., Karppinen S., Kaljonen A., Peltola V.

PublisherBMJ Publishing Group

Publication year2017

JournalBMJ Open

Journal name in sourceBMJ Open

Volume7

Issue9

Number of pages8

ISSN2044-6055

eISSN2044-6055

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014635

Web address http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/9/e014635

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/27587822


Abstract

Objective: We explored the burden of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in young children with regard to day-care initiation.

Design: Longitudinal prospective birth cohort study.

Setting and methods: We recruited 1827 children for follow-up until the age of 24 months collecting diary data on RTIs and daycare. Children with continuous daycare type and complete data were divided into groups of centre-based daycare (n=299), family day care (FDC) (n=245) and home care (n=350). Using repeated measures variance analyses, we analysed days per month with symptoms of respiratory tract infection, antibiotic treatments and parental absence from work for a period of 6 months prior to and 9 months after the start of daycare.

Results: We documented a significant effect of time and type of daycare, as well as a significant interaction between them for all outcome measures. There was a rise in mean days with symptoms from 3.79 (95% CI 3.04 to 4.53) during the month preceding centre-based daycare to 10.57 (95% CI 9.35 to 11.79) at 2 months after the start of centre-based daycare, with a subsequent decrease within the following 9 months. Similar patterns with a rise and decline were observed in the use of antibiotics and parental absences. The start of FDC had weaker effects. Our findings were not changed when taking into account confounding factors.

Conclusions: Our study shows the rapid increase in respiratory infections after start of daycare and a relatively fast decline in the course of time with continued daycare. It is important to support families around the beginning of daycare.


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