Antenatal Corticosteroids and Infectious Diseases Throughout Childhood

Is maternal antenatal corticosteroid treatment associated with increased susceptibility for respiratory and nonrespiratory infections in offspring from childhood to adulthood?In this cohort study of 1 548 538 mother-child pairs, exposure to antenatal corticosteroid treatment was significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory and nonrespiratory infections in preterm and full-term children through age 21 years.These findings might help inform discussion around the benefits and long-term risks of maternal antenatal corticosteroid treatment.

Corresponding Author: Rebecca M. Reynolds, PhD, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh Bioquarter, 47 Little France Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom (r.reynolds@ed.ac.uk).

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