Acute respiratory infections are common in children below 5 years and recent studies suggest a possible link with air pollution. In this study, we investigated the association between ambient nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and bronchitis or upper airway inflammation. This longitudinal study was conducted in Teplice and Prachatice districts, Czech Republic. Children were followed from birth to 4.5 years of age. Data were compiled from medical records at delivery and at follow up, and from self-administered questionnaires from the same two time points. Air pollution monitoring data were used to estimate exposure over five different averaging periods ranging from three to 45 days prior to an episode. To quantify the association between exposure and outcome, while accounting for repeated measure correlation we conducted logistic regression analysis using generalized estimating equations. During the first 2 years of life, the adjusted rate ratio for bronchitis associated with interquartile increase in the 30-day average NO(x) was 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 1.61] and for two to 4.5 year olds, it was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.49). The 14-day exposure also had stable association across both age groups: below 2 years it was 1.25 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.47) and for two to 4.5 years it was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.39). The association between bronchitis and NO(x) increased with child's age in the under 2 years group, which is a relatively novel finding. The results demonstrate an association between NO(x) and respiratory infections that are sufficiently severe to come to medical attention. The evidence, if causal, can be of public health concern because acute respiratory illnesses are common in preschool children.

• MeSH
• bronchitida epidemiologie   MeSH
• epidemiologické monitorování MeSH
• inhalační expozice analýza   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• kohortové studie MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• nemoci dýchací soustavy epidemiologie   MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• oxidy dusíku analýza   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• oxidy dusíku MeSH