Risk factors and mechanisms of high respiratory morbidity in children

Abstract

Summary. The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors of high respiratory morbidity in preschool children with frequent respiratory infection episodes. Medical records of 95 children with frequent respiratory infections and of 30 healthy children and questioning of their parents were retrospectively analyzed. The results demonstrated that most significant risk factors of frequent respiratory infection episodes were obstetric and gynecological morbidity of the child's mother, metabolic and dystrophic disorders in children, presence of smokers in the family. Investigation of local and systemic defensive mechanisms revealed decreased serum immunoglobulin A and INF-γ levels and elevated concentrations of IL-4 and TNF-α. Increased concentration of nitrates / nitrites in exhaled breath condensate was also found. A direct correlation was found between concentration of nitric oxide metabolites in exhaled breath condensate and IL-4 level in the serum; an inverse relationship was found between the former parameter and INF-γ level in the blood serum.