Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: Increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 190 - 195
• Main Authors: Istre, Gregory R., Conner, Judy S., Broome, Claire V., Hightower, Allen, Hopkins, Richard S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.02.1985; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Feeding; Child; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Colorado; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - transmission; Family; Haemophilus Infections - epidemiology; Haemophilus Infections - transmission; Haemophilus influenzae - isolation & purification; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Risk; Schools; Schools, Nursery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Colorado; Human; Infection; School age; Day care center; Respiratory disease; Risk factor; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Respiratory system; Child; Epidemiology; Haemophilus influenzae
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(85)80285-7

From November I, 1981, through April 30, 1982, we performed a case-control study of primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in children in Colorado. Information was collected for 121 (83%) of 146 children with positive cultures and for 196 (67%) of 292 age-matched controls selected at random from birth certificates. Infected children were more likely to have attended a day care center or nursery (DCC/N) and to have an elementary school-aged household member. For attendance at DCC/N, the relative risk was significantly increased only for children 12 months of age or older, and increased with the size of the DCC/N. After controlling for DCC/N attendance and school-aged siblings, children younger than 6 months of age with infection were significantly less likely to have been breast-fed, suggesting a protective effect of breast-feeding. We identified DCC/N attendees, especially those older than 1 year of age, to be at increased risk of primary H. influenzae disease. They could benefit from immunization.