Daycare Protects against Childhood Leukemia
Finding supports theory that early infections help prevent disease
Betterhumans Staff
Children who attend daycare in the first few months of life have a reduced risk of leukemia, supporting a theory that early infections protect against the disease.
In a study of more than 9,000 children, UK researchers have found that increasing levels of social activity outside the home are associated with consistent reductions in the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
The greatest reduction was seen in children who attended formal daycare during the first three months of life.
"Our results provide further support that social activity with other infants and children during the first few months of life protects against subsequent risk of ALL," say the researchers.
The most likely interpretation, say the researchers, is that exposure to common infections protects against the disease, as has been reported for such diseases as type 1 diabetes and allergies in children.
"Whether early exposure to one or more specific infections, or to a spectrum of non-specific agents, protects against each of these disparate diseases remains to be clarified," say the researchers. "Nevertheless, we conclude that some degree of early exposure to infection seems to be important for child health."
The study involved 6,305 children aged two to 14 years without cancer and 3,140 children with cancer, of whom 1,286 had ALL.
The researchers interviewed the children's parents about daycare and social activity with children outside the family during the first year of life.
The research is reported in the British Medical Journal (read abstract) .
http://www.betterhumans.com/
Betterhumans Staff
Children who attend daycare in the first few months of life have a reduced risk of leukemia, supporting a theory that early infections protect against the disease.
In a study of more than 9,000 children, UK researchers have found that increasing levels of social activity outside the home are associated with consistent reductions in the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
The greatest reduction was seen in children who attended formal daycare during the first three months of life.
"Our results provide further support that social activity with other infants and children during the first few months of life protects against subsequent risk of ALL," say the researchers.
The most likely interpretation, say the researchers, is that exposure to common infections protects against the disease, as has been reported for such diseases as type 1 diabetes and allergies in children.
"Whether early exposure to one or more specific infections, or to a spectrum of non-specific agents, protects against each of these disparate diseases remains to be clarified," say the researchers. "Nevertheless, we conclude that some degree of early exposure to infection seems to be important for child health."
The study involved 6,305 children aged two to 14 years without cancer and 3,140 children with cancer, of whom 1,286 had ALL.
The researchers interviewed the children's parents about daycare and social activity with children outside the family during the first year of life.
The research is reported in the British Medical Journal (read abstract) .
http://www.betterhumans.com/
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