Study Finds High Overall Infection Burden In Early Life Linked To Increased Risk For Moderate To Severe Infection, Greater Use Of Systemic Antibiotic Therapy Throughout Childhood

Infectious Disease Advisor (3/17, McSwiggin) reports “high overall infection burden in early life may be associated” with an “increased risk for moderate to severe infection and greater use of systemic antibiotic therapy throughout childhood, according to study results.” The researchers found “pneumonia, acute otitis media, fever, and gastric infection episodes from birth to 3 years were associated with higher risk for use of systemic antibiotic therapy from age 3 until 10 to 13 years.” Meanwhile, “episodes of cold, pneumonia, and fever in early life were also linked to increased risk for moderate to severe infection occurrence in later childhood.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.