Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0147 |
| Title: | Childhood cancers and their association with pregnancy drugs and illnesses |
| Author(s): | Gilman EA, Kinnier M, et al. |
| Reference: | Paediat and Perinatal Epidem 1989; 3: 66-94 |
| Place of Study: | UK |
| Abstract: | This study, which began in 1955, included all child deaths from neoplastic disease during the period 1953 to 1979 in England, Scotland, and Wales. Each fatal case was paired with a live control, matched for sex and date of birth, and born in the same district. This lead to a study of 8,059 matched pairs. Acute respiratory infections, particularly viral infections such as influenza, were associated with a significantly increased risk of all childhood cancers and of neoplasms of the reticulo-endothelial system in particular (relative risk 1.69 for all cancers, 1.81 for neoplasms of the reticulo-endothelial system, 1.59 for solid cancers). An analysis of illnesses according to their physiological effects yielded significant association between childhood leukaemia and febrile illnesses. There was an increased risk associated with maternal epilepsy rather than exposure to anti-convulsant drugs. Vaccines during pregnancy were also a risk factor for all cancers (the majority of vaccinations were viral live vaccines such as influenza and poliomyelite). Consumption of antipyretics and analgesics significantly increased the risks of childhood cancer. There was a significant association between the use of drugs undergoing amino acid conjugation (predominantly antipyretics and analgesics) and childhood cancer risk (Relative risk 1.76 for solid cancers). |
| Keyword(s): | analgesics, analgesics in pregnancy, antipyretics, cancer in childhood, leukaemia, vaccination, viral infections |
| Discussion: | This is the largest epidemiological study of cancer in childhood. See entries 0024, 0027 and 0073. |
| See Also: | 0024, 0027, 0073 |
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