Severe childhood infections may lead to early signs of adult heart disease say the scientists of UK Institute of Child Health.
The children observed were part of a study sample called Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The research was done to assess the flexibility of the children’s arteries. The study showed that the children who suffered a severe infection showed inflexible arteries, which continued to remain so even a year after the infection. Most of these children recovered fully with time. However a small percentage of these children continued to have inflexible arteries after six months to 1yr of the infection.Rigidity of arteries is a common sign of impending heart disease unless it is treated on time.
Researchers have however warned the parents that the next time their children have an infection, they should not think in terms of an impending cardiac arrest. Studies are still at a preliminary level to make such a conclusion.
It is still not known which infections cause the stiffness of arteries in children. Researchers of this study are of opinion that more research is needed to find out the exact infections that cause childhood arterial dysfunction.
