Feasibility of a birth cohort study dedicated to assessing acute infections using symptom diaries and parental collection of biomaterials

Abstract

BackgroundA birth cohort dedicated to studying infections in early childhood may be assisted by parental recording of symptoms on a daily basis and a collection of biomaterials. We aimed at testing the feasibility of this approach for use in a long-term study focusing on infections in children in Germany.MethodsParents of 1- to 3-year-old children (n = 75) were recruited in nursery schools. They were asked to complete a symptom diary on a daily basis and to take monthly and symptom-triggered nasal swabs and stool samples from their child over the study period of three months. Feasibility was measured by means of the return proportions of symptom diaries and bio samples; acceptance was assessed by a questionnaire delivered to participants at the end of the study.ResultsThe majority of the participants filled in the symptom diary during the three months study for 75 or more days (77.3 %), and provided the monthly nasal swabs (62.7 %) and stool samples (65.3 %). The time needed for the tasks was acceptable for most participants (symptom diary: 92.3 %, nasal swabs: 98.5 %, stool samples: 100.0 %). In 64.3 % of the symptom-triggered nasal swabs, respiratory viruses were found compared to 55.5 % in throat swabs taken by health-care professionals within the “ARE surveillance Lower Saxony”, a special project by the Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony to investigate causal pathogens for acute respiratory infections in children.ConclusionsThe parental assessment of symptoms and collection of biomaterials in a birth cohort dedicated to studying infections appears feasible in a middle class German population. The success of the study will depend on the ability to maintain these activities over a long time period.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-015-1189-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of Disease Definition on Perceived Burden of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children

“…The non-finding rate in community-based studies with nasal swabbing of children with respiratory symptoms lies between one quarter and one third. 5,17,23 Furthermore, Kusel 6 et al also found viruses in 24.6% of samples obtained on days without symptoms. 23 Here the question arises if this still would be considered as an infection.…”

Cohort Profile: The LoewenKIDS Study – life-course perspective on infections, the microbiome and the development of the immune system in early childhood

“…The symptom diary was developed based on the symptom diary used by the Australian birth cohort ORChID and adapted according to the results of our feasibility study. 12,13 Participants can choose between a paper-based diary, an online version or an app. Changes between the different modes are allowed.…”

“…Our focus is on viruses and we expect prevalence of human respiratory virus and respiratory syncytial virus as well as rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus. 13 Nevertheless, research on other causative agents of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections is planned or may evolve in future collaborations. Furthermore, all nasal swabs and stool samples will be analysed regarding changes of microbial community composition over time and with respect to influencing factors like infections, vaccinations, antibiotic intake and breastfeeding/nutrition over time.…”

“…Before initiating the cohort, we conducted a pilot study to assess willingness to participate and a feasibility study testing different study components. 13,14 This study is funded by institutional resources of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg.…”

The association between stressful life events and respiratory infections during the first 4 years of life: The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young study

“…In contrast, the TEDDY moms who worked and smoked and whose child was an ethnic minority reported fewer RIEs. Several previous studies have suggested that more educated mothers at higher socio‐economic status may be more compliant or attentive to requests to document RIEs in their child leading to higher reports (Bergmann et al, ; Grüber et al, ; Shi et al, ; Simoes, ; Zoch et al, ). Previous studies have also documented that more concerned parents tend to report more RIEs in the child (Andre et al, ; Van Der Gaag & Van Droffelaar, ).…”