E-health and health care behaviour of parents of young children: a qualitative study.

Objective: Internet plays a huge role in providing information about health care problems. However, it is unknown how parents use and perceive the internet as a source of information and how this influences health care utilisation when it comes to common complaints in infants. The objective was to evaluate the perception parents have on the role of internet in providing health care information on common symptoms in infants and its effects on health care utilisation.

Early growth characteristics and the risk of reduced lung function and asthma: A meta-analysis of 25,000 children.

Background: Children born preterm or with a small size for gestational age are at increased risk for childhood asthma.

Objective: We sought to assess the hypothesis that these associations are explained by reduced airway patency.

Methods: We used individual participant data of 24,938 children from 24 birth cohorts to examine and meta-analyze the associations of gestational age, size for gestational age, and infant weight gain with childhood lung function and asthma (age range, 3.

Maternal use of probiotics during pregnancy and effects on their offspring's health in an unselected population.

Unlabelled: Probiotics are used by women in the perinatal period and may improve balance of microbiota, with possible health benefits for both mother and baby. Characteristics and (health) behaviour patterns of mothers using probiotics during pregnancy, and health effects on their offspring, were investigated. Differences between mothers using probiotics during pregnancy and those who did not, were assessed.

Parent-reported symptoms of acute otitis media during the first year of life: what is beneath the surface?

Background: Most estimates of the incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) are based on general practitioner (GP) or pediatrician diagnoses. It is likely that these figures underestimate the community incidence of AOM since parents do not visit their doctor every time their child suffers from acute ear symptoms. The impact of these symptom episodes may be substantial since they affect the child's quality of life and parents' productivity.

E-health and consultation rates for respiratory illnesses in infants: a randomised clinical trial in primary care.

Background: It is assumed that clear and complete information on the internet can reduce healthcare consumption.

Aim: We assessed in a randomised clinical trial whether a personalised online parent information program on infant respiratory symptoms can reduce primary care utilisation.

Design And Setting: Randomised clinical trial in primary healthcare centres in a new residential area in the Netherlands.

Decreased lung function precedes severe respiratory syncytial virus infection and post-respiratory syncytial virus wheeze in term infants.

It is unknown why respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild disease in some children and severe disease, requiring hospitalisation, in others. We aimed to assess whether diminished premorbid lung function in healthy term infants predisposes to hospitalisation during RSV bronchiolitis, and to post-RSV wheeze. In a prospective birth cohort study of unselected term healthy children, neonatal lung function was measured before the age of 2 months (n=2133).

Preterm birth, infant weight gain, and childhood asthma risk: a meta-analysis of 147,000 European children.

Background: Preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant catch-up growth seem associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases in later life, but individual studies showed conflicting results.

Objectives: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis for 147,252 children of 31 birth cohort studies to determine the associations of birth and infant growth characteristics with the risks of preschool wheezing (1-4 years) and school-age asthma (5-10 years).

Methods: First, we performed an adjusted 1-stage random-effect meta-analysis to assess the combined associations of gestational age, birth weight, and infant weight gain with childhood asthma.

Life-course of cardio-respiratory associations.

Background: Several studies have shown that raised cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an impaired lung function in adulthood. Whether this association also exists in the young is unknown. Our aim was to study the relation between blood pressure and lung function from neonatal to elderly age.

Human rhinovirus and wheezing: short and long-term associations in children.

Objectives: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) have been suggested to play a role in the development of childhood wheezing. However, whether HRV is causally related to the development of wheezing or HRV-associated wheeze is merely an indicator of disease susceptibility is unclear. Our aim was to study the role of HRV during infancy in the development of lower respiratory disease during infancy and childhood.

Referrals for recurrent respiratory tract infections including otitis media in young children.

Objective: (a) To establish whether disease-related, child-related, and physician-related factors are independently associated with specialist referral in young children with recurrent RTI, and (b) to evaluate whether general practitioners (GPs) follow current guidelines regarding these referrals.

Methods: Electronic GP records of children under 24 month of age, born 2002-2008, were reviewed for RTI episodes using ICPC codes. Child-related factors were extracted from the prospective WHISTLER birth-cohort in which a considerable part of children had been enrolled.

Reduced neonatal lung function and wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life.

Studies of reduced neonatal lung function and wheezing illnesses during childhood show conflicting results. The aim of our study was to assess the association between resistance (Rrs) and compliance (Crs) of the respiratory system by using the single occlusion technique (SOT) and prospectively collected wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life in a large birth cohort. SOT was performed during natural sleep before the age of 2 months.

Early life lung function and respiratory outcome in the first year of life.

Abnormal early life lung function is related to wheezing in childhood; however, data on the association with cough are not available. We determined the relationship between early life lung function and wheeze and cough during the first year of life, adjusted for other possible risk factors. Infants were participants of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER).

Effect of endotoxin and allergens on neonatal lung function and infancy respiratory symptoms and eczema.

Background: Exposure to endotoxin and allergens in house dust has been found to be associated with childhood wheeze and asthma. Neonatal lung function is rarely examined in relation to this exposure.

Objectives: To assess the association between exposure to endotoxin, house dust mite and cat allergens and neonatal lung function, and respiratory symptoms and eczema in infancy.

Glucocorticoid-associated Bradycardia.

Background: Glucocorticoids are known to cause several side-effects. This retrospective study addresses the relation of glucocorticoid therapy and heart rate. Patient charts of 61 children, treated with (the equivalent of) 1 to 5 mg/kg/d prednisone, were analyzed.