AN INVESTIGATION OF
RECURRENT RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN THE POPULATION OF CHILDREN IN
LANZHOU AREA
Wang A-H, Lu G-L, Li F-M, Sun J-J, Zhu D-M,
Xiu X-H, Geng W-F and Zhang H-Y
Department of Pediatrics, Chengguan District
Hospital, Lanzhou, China
Objective: To investigate the
correlation between recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI) and common
environmental or hereditary factors in the population of children in the
Lanzhou area of China.
Method: A survey and physical
examination of 10,958 children from the ages of 1 to 14 years old was
conducted in 29 local communities of Lanzhou, China, including 7 day care
centers, 6 elementary schools and 5 secondary schools. The written
questionnaires answered by parents included family income, living condition,
household pets, family history of respiratory illness, and attendance to
day care center. The physical examination included measurement of height,
weight, blood pressure, respiratory rate and rhythm of the heart. 10,511
out of the 10,958 children (96%) completed the study, including 5,145 boys
and 5,378 girls. The study was categorized by with the age group with size
ranging from 635 to 992 children per group.
Results: The percentage of children
identified with RRTI in the total population investigated was 8% (845 out
of 10,523). Children under the age of 2 years had a significantly lower
percentage of RRTI than that of the total population investigated. The
pre-school age groups of 4 to 6 years old had a higher percentage of RRTI
than that of the total population investigated. The odd rate of RRTI
decreased as the group ages increased for the groups of 6 to 14 years old.
There were no perceptible differences between boys and girls in all age
groups. The group with family living area of 10 m2 per member
was not found significantly different from the group with family living
area > 20 m2 per member. There was no significant difference
between the pets group and non-pets group. No evidence suggested that RRTI
is associated with height or weight. There was no significant difference
between the group of children with family history of chronic respiratory
illness and the group without family history of respiratory illness. The
RRTI peak seasons were from January to April and November to December.
Conclusion: The peak season for
RRTI in Lanzhou area is early spring and early winter. Children under the
age of 2 years have a lower risk of RRTI. The peak age of RRTI occurs after
children have passed the age of 3 years, probably due to increased exposure
to infectious agents, for instance attendance to day care center. There is
no relationship between RRTI and gender. Based on the living standard in
Lanzhou, China, we found no evidence that RRTI is associated with
children's physical development, household pets or genetic factors. The
results suggest that improving hygiene in day care centers and schools
might be an element in reducing RRTI occurrence.
Keyword Recurrent Respiratory Tract
Infection, Pediatrics, Correlation, Percentiles.