WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Reem Fakhri Thanoon, Halla A. S. Yousif Ikzir and Anwar Jameel Shamoon

ABSTRACT

Background: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the autoimmune diseases that are triggered by manyenvironmental factors and have a genetic component, it is frequently diagnosed in children worldwide. The fullextent of these effects is still unknown. Understanding the environmental elements that contribute to type 1diabetes mellitus; can aid in disease prevention, control, and cost-effective treatment. Objectives: To investigatethe risk factors of type I diabetes among children less than 14 years of both genders in Mosul city. Methods: Thisis case control study, included 200 randomly selected patients, of them 100 patients had diagnosed with type I DM(case group) and another 100 one, in the same age group, in whom evaluation proved not to have type Ι diabetesmellitus (control group). The study conducted from September 1st, 2023, to March 1st, 2024. The questionnairecomposed from four parts; part one for sociodemographic information of the study participants. Part two forfamily history of autoimmune diseases like, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Addison disease and pernicious anemia. Partthree for type of feeding during the first year of life whether exclusively breast feeding, bottle or mixed feeding.Part four for history of major events one year before diagnosis of disease such as viral illnesses, stressful eventswhich also include accident and surgery. Results: The mean age of the study participants are 5.31 ± 3.27 years.It’s evident diabetes type I is more prevalent among those aged more than or equal to 5 years (82%), females(54%) and patients from urban residence (74%). The majority of patients had diabetes for more than five yearsand the age onset of DM at 5-15 years. Risky association and statistically significant difference are found betweencases and controls regarding the presence of stressful life events, family history of DM or autoimmune disease,depending on bottle feeding during the first 6 months of age and introduction of weaning food before 6 months.Conclusion: The study concluded that there is seasonal variation for diabetes mellitus onset, which suggests thatother environmental risk factors might be additional risk factor. Breast feeding may delay or protective for thedevelopment of type I diabetes in children.