Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Denmark, 1994-2008.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe trends in the management of pregnancies in HIV-infected women and their outcomes over a 14-year period in Denmark on a national basis. METHODS: The study was a retrospective cohort study of all HIV-infected women in Denmark giving birth to one or more children between 1 June 1994 and 30 June 2008. RESULTS: We identified 210 HIV-infected women with 255 pregnancies, ranging from 7 per year in 1995 to 39 per year in 2006. Thirty per cent of the women were Caucasian and 51% were Black African. Knowledge of HIV status before pregnancy increased from 8% (four of 49) in 1994-1999 to 80% (164 of 206) in 2000-2008. Only 29% (53 of 183) of the women chose to consult an infectious disease specialist when planning pregnancy, while 14% (27 of 199) received assistance with fertility. The proportion of women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) increased from 76% (37 of 49) in 1994-1999 to 98% (201 of 206) in 2000-2008. Vaginal deliveries ranged from 0 in 2003 to 35% of pregnancies in 2007. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV decreased from 10.4% in 1994-1999 to 0.5% in 2000-2008. All women giving birth to an HIV-positive child were diagnosed with HIV during or after delivery and did not receive prophylactic ART. CONCLUSIONS: The annual number of HIV pregnancies increased fivefold during this 14-year period and substantial changes in pregnancy management were seen. No woman treated according to the national guidelines, i.e. ART before week 22, intravenous zidovudine (ZDV) during labour, neonatal ZDV for 4 to 6 weeks and no breastfeeding, transmitted HIV to her child.

Excretion patterns of human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus among young children.

BACKGROUND: As respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) cause serious respiratory tract infections, the routes of transmission of these viruses are important to elucidate. We examined the modes of virus shedding and shedding duration of RSV and hMPV in young children. METHODS: From each child in a group of 44 children (37 RSV-positive, 6 hMPV-positive, and 1 co-infected child), aged between 0.5-38 months, hospitalised at Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, one nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA), saliva, urine, and faeces sample were collected at inclusion and weekly in a three-week period. Sweat and blood samples were obtained at inclusion. The presence of RSV and hMPV RNA was detected using real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: We detected RSV RNA in 28 saliva specimens, 5 stool samples, and 3 sweat samples. hMPV RNA was detected in one saliva specimen and two sweat samples. Four of the five children shedding RNA in faeces had diarrhoea and children shedding RNA in sweat were either less than five weeks of age or had a chronic lung disease. RSV and hMPV RNA was shed in nasal secretions for a median of 11.5 and 5.0 days respectively (p = 0.001). More than 75% of the family members of the infected children showed to have an upper respiratory tract infection when following up. CONCLUSION: Viral RNA was present in nasal secretions, saliva, sweat, and faeces, but whether or not the virions were infectious and constitute a potential mode of transmission remains to be shown in future studies.

Prevalence and predictors of atopy among young Danish adults.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atopic diseases is increasing in western countries, and environmental exposures in childhood may influence development of atopic sensitization. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of atopy among young Danish adults. METHODS: Of 940 invited subjects, aged 19-29 years, complete data were obtained from 525 (56%) subjects. All completed a questionnaire concerning asthma, rhinitis, preschool nursery care, smoking habits, family size, education and employment. A skin prick test was performed, and pulmonary function was measured using standard techniques. Atopy was defined as a positive skin prick test. RESULTS: The frequency of atopy was 32% (males 43% vs. females 23%, P < 0.001). We found a positive association between atopy and atopic dermatitis (P < 0.05), rhinitis (P < 0.001), itching when eating nuts (P < 0.001) and current asthma (P < 0.001). There was an inverse relation between atopy and having furred pets in childhood (P < 0.05), passive smoking in childhood (P < 0.01) and current passive smoking (P < 0.05). An increasing number of siblings was inversely related to atopy to grass (P < 0.05); however, only an increasing number of older siblings seemed to protect from atopy to grass (P < 0.05). Subjects who had never attended a day-care centre had significantly more atopy to grass (P < 0.05). No significant association was found between atopy and airway infections requiring hospitalization before the age of 5 years, or between atopy and bedroom sharing in childhood. CONCLUSION: Atopy is common among young Danish adults, especially in males. Participants were less likely to be atopic, especially to grass allergen, if they came from large families, had kept furred pets as children, and had been exposed to tobacco smoke.

[Atopy among children and adolescents in Copenhagen]. / Atopi hos børn og unge i København.

INTRODUCTION: Atopy is related to the presence of rhinitis and asthma, but our knowledge about its longitudinal predictors is limited. METHODS: Data from a 6-yr follow-up study of a population sample of children and adolescents (n = 408), aged 7 to 17 yr. at enrollment, were analysed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of atopy. Case history, including allergic diseases and smoking habits, was elicited by interview and questionnaire. Skin prick test reactivity to common allergens, total serum IgE, airway responsiveness, and pulmonary function were measured. RESULTS: The point prevalence of atopy increased from the first to the second survey, 26% and 44%, respectively; 23% of the participants were atopic only at the second survey. Sensitisation to house dust mites (HDM), grass, dogs, cats, and birch pollen increased significantly in both the males and the females. However, no gender differences in the prevalence of positive reactions were found at the first survey, whereas atopy to grass and HDM was significantly more prevalent in males than in females at the second survey. Analysis of the data solely on participants who were non-atopic at the first survey showed that exposure to maternal smoking (OR 2.0, CI 1.3-3.1; p = 0.002), increased serum IgE (OR 1.7, CI 1.2-2.3; p = 0.001), new asthma (OR 1.6, CI 1.2-2.7; p = 0.03), and new rhinitis (OR 2.1, CI 1.2-3.6; p = 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of a positive skin prick test at the second survey. CONCLUSION: This longitudinal population study showed an increase in the point prevalence of atopy in Danish children and adolescents; and, furthermore, that exposure to maternal smoking during childhood, increased serum IgE, and new symptoms of asthma or rhinitis were associated with an increased risk of developing sensitisation to common aeroallergens in late adolescence.

Prevalence and predictors of rhinitis in Danish children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of self-reported symptoms of allergic rhinitis is increasing in many countries, but the reasons for this trend are not well understood. Data from a 6-year follow-up study of a population sample of children and adolescents (n=408), aged 7-17 years at enrolment in 1986, were analyzed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of self-reported rhinitis. METHODS: Case history was used to assess the presence or absence of rhinitis (sneezing and running or blocked nose not associated with a cold), asthma, and eczema. Pulmonary function, skin prick test reactivity, and airway responsiveness to histamine were measured in all participants; a screening test for IgE antibodies to common allergens (Magic Lite SQ, Allergy Screen, ALK, Denmark) was performed in 237 (58%) of the participants. RESULTS: The point prevalence of rhinitis increased from the first to the second survey, 14% and 22%, respectively; 54 (13%) of the subjects reported rhinitis only at the second survey (new rhinitis). Confining the analysis to participants without symptoms of rhinitis at the first survey showed that self-reported eczema (relative risk [RR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-4.7), airway hyperresponsiveness (RR 2.5, CI 1.8-3.0), atopy to grass pollen (RR 2.6, CI 1.7-3.3), atopy to dog dander (RR 2.4, CI 1.6-3.3), and atopy to house-dust mite (RR 2.7, CI 1.4-5.2) at the first survey predicted an increased risk of the presence of rhinitis at the second survey. A positive Allergy Screen test at enrollment was associated with an increased risk of self-reported rhinitis at follow-up (RR 2.4, CI 1.4-3.4). CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal population study of children and adolescents showed an age-related increase in the point prevalence of self-reported rhinitis; furthermore, sensitization to common aeroallergens, airway hyperresponsiveness, and the presence of self-reported eczema were significantly associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of rhinitis.