AbstractBackgroundMost infections of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is potentially neurotropic, occurred in childhood, but little is known about its association with child neurodevelopmental outcomes.MethodsWe determined whether EBV seropositivity was associated with parent-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disability, or special education utilization among children, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. Potential confounding factors were adjusted using survey logistic regression models.ResultsEBV seroprevalence was 69.6% (95% CI, 67.1%-72.1%) for U.S. children aged 6-19. The prevalence was 8.86% (95% CI, 7.47%-10.47%) for ADHD among 6-19 year olds, 11.70% (95% CI, 9.84%-13.87%) for learning disability among 6-15 year olds, and 10.18% (95% CI, 8.58%-12.05%) for special education among 6-17 year olds. Children with positive anti-EBV had higher crude prevalence rates of learning disability and special education but not ADHD compared with those with negative anti-EBV. The adjusted odds ratios were 2.76 (95% CI, 1.53-4.96) for learning disability, 3.58 (95% CI, 1.92-6.55) for special education, and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.42-1.38) for ADHD, when comparing children with positive and negative anti-EBV.ConclusionsEBV seropositivity was associated with learning disability and special education among U.S. children. Future studies that longitudinally examine the associations are warranted.
Pyrethroid Pesticide Exposure and Parental Report of Learning Disability and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children: NHANES 1999–2002