Children under 6 months old who experience recurrent viral respiratory tract infections could be more likely to be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes by the time they're 8 years old, according to a new study published in JAMA.
For the study, researchers analyzed information on 295,420 infants born in Bavaria, Germany, between 2005 and 2007. Information on the children continued to be collected for 8.5 years on average. During follow-ups, 720 of the patients were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Approximately 93 percent of children encountered at least one infection in the first two years of life, while 97 percent of those with Type 1 diabetes incurred one infection in the same time frame.
Results indicated that infants who experienced respiratory tract infections in the first six months of life were more likely to be diagnosed Type 1 diabetes by age 8.
The study's authors disclose that they were unable to adjust results based on potentially influential factors like family history, but conclude that "the association of respiratory tract infections in the first six months with Type 1 diabetes is consistent with smaller studies assessing autoantibody development, suggesting that the first half-year of life is crucial for the development of the immune system and autoimmunity."
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