International Journal of General Medicine (Feb 2022)
Associations of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disability, and Special Education in US Children
Abstract
Jingjing Wang,1 Yaping Li,2 Xiaozhen Geng,2 Xin Zhang,2 Yanfeng Xiao,1 Wenjun Wang2 1Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wenjun Wang, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 157 Xiwu Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8615091052402, Email [email protected] Yanfeng Xiao, Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 157 Xiwu Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8602987679273, Email [email protected]: Most infections of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is potentially neurotropic, occur in childhood, but little is known about its association with child neurodevelopmental outcomes.Patients and Methods: We investigated 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.Results: EBV seroprevalence was 69.6% (95% CI, 67.1– 72.1%) for US 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.Conclusion: EBV seropositivity was associated with learning disability and special education among US children. Future studies that longitudinally examine the associations are warranted.Keywords: EBV, ADHD, neurodevelopment, NHANES
