Early childhood infections and the use of antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics in Finland, Estonia and Russian Karelia

Mustonenh, Neea; Siljander, Heli; Peet, Aleksandr; Tillmann, Vallo; Harkonen, Taina; Ilonen, Jorma; Hyoty, Heikki; Knip, Mikael; Koski, Katriina; Koski, Matti; Ryhanen, Samppa; Hamalainen, Anu-Maaria; Ormisson, Anne; Ulich, Valentina; Kuzmicheva, Elena; Mokurov, Sergei; Markova, Svetlana; Pylova, Svetlana; Isakova, Marina; Shakurova, Elena; Petrov, Vladimir; Dorshakova, Natalya; Karapetyan, Tatyana; Varlamova, Tatyana; Kiviniemi, Minna; Alnek, Kristi; Janson, Helis; Uibo, Raivo; Mutius, Erika von; Weber, Juliano; Ahlfors, Helena; Kallionpaa, Henna; Laajala, Essi; Landesmaki, Harri; Lahesmaa, Riitta; Moulder, Robert; Nieminen, Janne; Ruohtula, Terhi; Vaarala, Outi; Honkanen, Hanna; Kondrashova, Anita; Oikarinen, Sami; Harmsen, Hermie J. M.; Goffau, Marcus C. de; Welling, Gjalt; Alahuhta, Kirsi und Virtanen, Suvi M. (2019): Early childhood infections and the use of antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics in Finland, Estonia and Russian Karelia. In: Acta Paediatrica, Bd. 108, Nr. 11: S. 2075-2082

Abstract

Aim Infections in early childhood are common reasons to seek medical attention. This study compares the prevalence of infections, and the use of antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics, in children from Finland, Estonia and Russian Karelia. Methods Children with a genetically increased risk for type 1 diabetes (N = 797) were observed from birth up to 3 years of age. Illnesses and medications were reported by parents continuously. All reported infections, antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics were compared between Finland and Estonia, and to a lesser extent with Russian Karelia, due to poor study compliance. Results Compared with Estonians, Finns reported more infections during the first and second years of life. During the follow-up, Finnish children had 10 infections while Estonians only had 8 (p < 0.001). Finns also used more antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics in each year during the follow-up. Russian Karelians reported the lowest frequency of infections and the most infrequent use of antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics in the first two years of life. Conclusion Infections and the use of antibiotics and antipyretic-analgesics in early childhood were most frequent in Finland, where socio-economic conditions are the most developed and microbial encounters are sparse. This may reflect on the hygiene hypothesis, a less effective immune system that allows normally harmless microbes to attack and cause clinical infections.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0803-5253
• Sprache: Englisch