Risk factors of recurrent respiratory infections in early school-age children

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) annually rank first in the structure of infectious diseases both in Ukraine and worldwide. ARIs are the leading cause of disability and death in preschool children, and with recurrent episodes, they can impact the physical and psychological aspects of children's health, imposing a significant medical burden on families, healthcare systems, and society as a whole. Preventing recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) can only be achieved through timely intervention in risk factors.Aim: to determine the influence of risk factors on the development of recurrent episodes of acute respiratory infections in children aged 5 to 7 years and to develop preventive measures for their control in primary healthcare settings.Materials and Methods. The authors retrospectively analyzed medical records of 342 children aged 5 to 7 years. The main group included children with RRIs (264), and the control group consisted of children with sporadic illness episodes (78). Results: the incidence of RRIs in children has two peaks at ages 3 and 6, which is likely associated with the commencement of attendance in childcare settings (kindergarten and school). Key prenatal and postnatal, clinical-anamnestic, and social risk factors that increase the likelihood of recurrent respiratory infections in younger school-age children were identified.Conclusions. factors significantly increasing the likelihood of developing RRIs in a child include: ARI episode within the first 6 months of life (OR = 22, 95% CI 11.6 - 41.7), previous pneumonia (OR = 12, 95% CI 3.7 - 40), and the presence of chronic infection foci in the form of tonsillitis (OR = 8.2, 95% CI 4.3 - 15.6), p=0.0001. Primary healthcare practitioners should follow strategies to modify these risk factors and not wait for further depletion of the child's adaptive potential (sanitation of chronic infection foci, promotion of breastfeeding, and tobacco cessation).