Infectious morbidity and resource use in children under 2 years old at childcare centres.

Aim To analyse the associations between childcare centres and infectious morbidity and resource consumption. Methods Cohort study from birth to 2 years. Outcome variable: number and types of infections, drug consumption and medical visits. Exposure variable: attending or not attending a childcare centre. School age: 6–12, >12–18, >18–24 months. Results The initial cohort comprised 445 children, and the final cohort comprised 419 children. The mean number of recurrent infections and wheezing was higher in children attending childcare centres in all age groups with significant differences. Recurrent acute otitis media was observed in the 12- to 18-month group with an odds ratio of 6.04 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–27.6; P = 0.001) in the children attending childcare centres. In children older than 6 months, there was greater consumption of antibiotics, inhaled bronchodilators, oral and inhaled corticosteroids and montelukast. Conclusions Attending a childcare is associated with an increased frequency of recurrent infections and wheezing, as well as the consumption of antibiotics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and montelukast.