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Neonatal urinary tract infection increases risk for allergic rhinitis during childhood

Newborns with neonatal urinary tract infections demonstrated a significantly elevated risk for allergic rhinitis during childhood, according to study results.

Chien-Heng Lin, MD, of the college of health care and department of pulmonary medicine at Children's Hospital of China Medical University, and colleagues used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to investigate 3,825 children with neonatal urinary tract infections (UTI) between 2000 and 2005. The analysis also included 13,128 matched controls.

Researchers matched study participants by sex, baseline year, parental occupation and urbanization of residential area. They then compared the risk for allergic rhinitis between UTI and non-UTI groups.

Results showed participants with neonatal UTI had a 1.41-fold higher risk for allergic rhinitis during childhood than the non-UTI group (100.2 per 1,000 person-years vs. 70.93 per 1,000 person-years). The overall risk for developing allergic rhinitis was 1.32 (95% CI, 1.23-1.41) after adjustments for potential risk factors

Researchers observed no significant difference between risk for allergic rhinitis and sex.

The risk for developing allergic rhinitis was equal among follow-up durations in the UTI and non-UTI groups, but was especially prevalent in follow-up durations of fewer than 5 years. Participants who had UTI and comorbidities such as neonatal jaundice and infections were significantly more likely to develop allergic rhinitis.

“Patients with UTI and particular comorbidities such as infections and neonatal jaundice had a significantly increased risk of allergic rhinitis,” Lin and colleagues wrote. “UTI in newborns is significantly associated with the development of allergic rhinitis in childhood and might be a risk factor for subsequent childhood allergic rhinitis.” – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.