CNS infection in childhood does not confer risk for later schizophrenia A case-control study

Objective The hypothesized role of CNS infection during childhood in increasing later risk of brain malfunction manifested as schizophrenia has been supported by some but not other studies We sought to contribute to this debate by linking data on persons who had been hospitalized for meningitis as children with a National Psychiatric Hospitalization Registry Method Data were gathered on 3599 persons who had been hospitalized for a CNS infection before the age of 16 and 6371 controls who had been hospitalized as children for gastroenteritis Both groups were followed for later hospitalization for schizophrenia between 1970 and 2007 using the Israeli National Psychiatric Hospitalization Case Registry Data were analyzed using Cox regression analyses Results The mean age of the subjects at hospitalization for a CNS infection was 34 +/- 3 6 years mean age of the subjects at follow up was 29 3 +/- 60 years Compared to controls hospitalization for any CNS infection during childhood was not associated with an increased risk of later hospitalization for schizophrenia adjusted HR=081 95% CI 0 5-1 32 Conclusions Overall there was no significant association between childhood CNS infection and schizophrenia These data do not support the presence of an infectious etiology of schizophrenia (C) 2010 Elsevier BV All rights reserved