Scientists have named three risk factors for the occurrence of respiratory distress in children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Children who before nine months of their age have started to eat fish, are less likely to suffer from respiratory disorders at preschool age. At the same time, children who were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics in the first week of life, or their mother took paracetamol during pregnancy, have an increased risk of developing snoring at preschool age. These are the results of a large-scale Swedish study published in the latest issue of the journal Acta Paediatrica.
The scientists analyzed the questionnaires with the answers of 4 171 randomly selected families with children aged 6 months, 12 months or 4.5 years.
"Periodic respiratory disorders are a very common clinical problem in pre-school children, so there is a need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of this pathology," says lead author Dr. Emma Goksor of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
"The aim of our study was to identify important risk factors and protective factors of the disease," the researcher specifies. "We believe that our results provide useful information on three important factors involved in breathing disorders among preschool children."
Scientists examined children who had three or more episodes of wheezing, including those who did not use anti-asthma drugs (inhaled corticosteroids), comparing them to children who did not have respiratory disorders. A group of children with breathing disorders was divided into subgroups: children who had episodic respiratory distress of a viral origin, and children with respiratory disorders due to constant exposure to factors such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise.
Main findings of the study:
Total prevalence
- One out of every five children had at least one episode of respiratory distress, each 20 had periodic disturbances (three or more episodes) throughout the year. Of these, 75% took anti-asthma drugs, more than 50% had asthma diagnosed by a doctor.
- More than half of the children (57%) with recurrent respiratory disorders were diagnosed with a viral infection
Eating fish for up to nine months
- The consumption of fish (white fish, salmon, flounder) up to nine months of growing children almost halved the likelihood of developing respiratory disorders.
- The consumption of fish reduces the risk of allergies, eczema in infancy and allergic rhinitis in preschool age, as well as asthma.
Treatment with antibiotics in the first week of life
- The intake of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the first week of life of children was associated with a double risk of repeated respiratory distress in a child under the age of 4.5 years. Only 3.6% of children receiving antibiotics did not have a violation.
Paracetamol use during pregnancy
- Less than one third of mothers (28.4%) took medication during pregnancy, 5.3% of women took paracetamol.
- Paracetamol intake during pregnancy increases the risk of developing respiratory distress in children by 60%.
The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for the development of respiratory disorders in preschool age, with a special emphasis on prenatal use of paracetamol, the early effects of antibiotics and fish consumption.
The results of the study clearly show that while fish has a protective effect in breathing disorders, the use of antibiotics by children in the first week of their life and the intake of paracetamole by women during pregnancy raise the risk of a child having trouble breathing.
[