C Hoffmann1, A Rosenberger, W Tröger, M Bühring. 1. Abteilung für Naturheilkunde, Klinik für Naturheilkunde und Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the assertion that past childhood diseases, acute and febrile infections as well as allergies have a preventive effect on cancer. Former studies on this topic show controversial results and methodical deficits. PATIENTS AND METHODS The investigation was conducted as a retrospective case control study with 111 cancer patients and a group of 109 control persons from 3 hospitals in Berlin. RESULTS: A significant change in the risk of developing cancer could only be observed for mumps (OR = 2.6; increased risk), whooping cough (OR = 2.7; increased risk), and colds in the recent past (OR = 0.7; decreased risk). Fever within the last 5 years showed no association with the development of malign tumors. CONCLUSION: We could not confirm the results of former studies which assumed a preventive effect of childhood diseases and fever on the cancer risk. On the contrary, on the basis of this investigation one might postulate a 2- to 3-fold rise of the cancer risk by mumps or whooping cough. Because of divergent study results, deficits in the study designs, and a low evidence of the present findings no final statement on the association between childhood diseases or fever and cancer should be made.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the assertion that past childhood diseases, acute and febrile infections as well as allergies have a preventive effect on cancer. Former studies on this topic show controversial results and methodical deficits. PATIENTS AND METHODS The investigation was conducted as a retrospective case control study with 111 cancerpatients and a group of 109 control persons from 3 hospitals in Berlin. RESULTS: A significant change in the risk of developing cancer could only be observed for mumps (OR = 2.6; increased risk), whooping cough (OR = 2.7; increased risk), and colds in the recent past (OR = 0.7; decreased risk). Fever within the last 5 years showed no association with the development of malign tumors. CONCLUSION: We could not confirm the results of former studies which assumed a preventive effect of childhood diseases and fever on the cancer risk. On the contrary, on the basis of this investigation one might postulate a 2- to 3-fold rise of the cancer risk by mumps or whooping cough. Because of divergent study results, deficits in the study designs, and a low evidence of the present findings no final statement on the association between childhood diseases or fever and cancer should be made.
Authors: Peter W G Tennant; Louise Parker; Julian E Thomas; Sir Alan W Craft; Mark S Pearce Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2013-02-15 Impact factor: 8.082