The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of early common infections and perinatal characteristics in the aetiology of childhood common leukaemia.
A slight negative association with early infections was observed. The association was stronger for early gastrointestinal infections. Early day-care was found to be associated with a decreased risk of AL…
[T]he study supports the hypothesis that early common infections may play a protective role in the etiology of childhood leukaemia…
Greaves has formulated the hypothesis that delayed exposure to common infections leads to an increased risk of childhood leukaemia…
On the basis of this hypothesis, a child isolated from infectious agents at the beginning of his/her life would be at a higher risk of ALL, while a high birth order value, early common infections and early day-care would be protective factors.
The present study investigated Greaves’ hypothesis…
Slight negative associations between ALL and common early infections and day-care were observed.
Few papers have addressed the role of early common infections yet. All but one found a negative association with early common infections.
Day-care attendance can be considered a surrogate of early contact with infections.
In our study, day-care was slightly negatively associated with ALL when initiated early.
When age at the start of day-care was studied, the negative association was stronger for the youngest.