Daycare and siblings increase likelihood of contracting respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus

Daycare attendance and siblings are associated with viral-induced wheezing in children. Pre-existing immunologic factors may influence the expression of viral infections in infancy, and in turn, recurrent infections may influence the development of immune responses.

285 children were enrolled in the Childhood Origins of Asthma project at birth and followed for at least one year. Cord blood and one-year mononuclear cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, and cytokine response profiles were measured by enzyme-linked immubosorbent assay.

Nasal lavage was performed for moderate-severe respiratory illnesses. Daycare attendance and/or siblings significantly increased the likelihood of contracting respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus and increased the risk of rhinovirus-induced wheezing.

Cord blood Interferon-gamma responses were inversely related to the frequency of viral respiratory infections, and more significant for subjects with high exposure to other children. The interval change in infantile Interferon-gamma responses was positively related to the frequency of viral infections in infancy. These data suggest that neonatal IFN- responses may influence anti-viral activity or may represent a marker of anti-viral immunity maturation. Conversely, the frequency of viral infections in infancy can influence Interferon-gamma responses.