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Parental Atopy (parental + atopy)

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Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Environmental factors, parental atopy and atopic eczema in primary-school children: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Y-L. Lee
Summary Background, Parental atopy and environmental exposure are recognized risk factors for atopic eczema (AE) in childhood. However, the relative contributions of specific risk factors and the overall contributions of hereditary and environmental exposure remain unexplored. Objectives, To identify risk factors, estimate the population attributable risk (PAR) of environmental exposure, and compare the AE data for boys vs. girls in primary-school children. Methods, During a February to June 2001 cross-sectional, Taiwan-based questionnaire survey, we investigated 23 980 children from 22 primary schools, all located within 1 km of an air-monitoring station. Results, The 12-month prevalence of AE was reported as 6·1% in boys and 4·9% in girls. In both sexes, the risk of AE was strongly associated with parental atopy and perceived ambient air pollution. The presence of cockroaches [odds ratio (OR) 1·18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·00,1·40] and visible mould on walls at home (OR 1·46, 95% CI 1·22,1·70) were also significantly related to AE for girls; however, only visible mould on walls (and not the presence of cockroaches) at home was related to AE for boys (OR 1·40, 95% CI 1·18,1·66). While mutually adjusted models were applied, we found adjusted ORs and PARs were similar in boys and girls in hereditary and outdoor environmental factors. The PAR of indoor environmental factors was higher in girls (8·4%) than in boys (5·5%). There was no interaction between parental atopy and environmental factors. Conclusions, Parental atopy contributed more to AE than indoor or outdoor environmental factors. Girls may be more susceptible to indoor environmental factors than boys. [source]

Blackcurrant seed oil for prevention of atopic dermatitis in newborns: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2010
P. Linnamaa
Summary Background The present increased incidence of atopic diseases has been associated with an altered intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs). The composition of blackcurrant seed oil (BCSO) corresponds to the recommended dietary intake of EFAs, and as a dietary supplement could, in small doses, modify the imbalance of EFAs in an efficient way. Objective To assess the effect of dietary supplementation with BCSO on the prevalence of atopy at 12 months of age. Methods Three hundred and thirteen pregnant mothers were randomly assigned to receive BCSO (151) or olive oil as placebo (162). The first doses were administered at 8th,16th weeks of pregnancy and were continued until the cessation of breastfeeding, followed by supplementation to the infants until the age of 2 years. Atopic dermatitis and its severity (SCORAD index) were evaluated, serum total IgE was measured and skin tests were performed at the age of 3, 12 and 24 months. Results Parental atopy was common (81.7%) among study subjects, making them infants with increased atopy risk. There was a significantly lower prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the BCSO group than in the olive oil group at the age of 12 months (33.0% vs. 47.3%, P=0.035). SCORAD was also lower in the BCSO group than in the olive oil group at 12 months of age (P=0.035). No significant differences in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis were observed between the groups at the age of 24 months (P=0.18). Conclusion Dietary supplementation with BCSO was well tolerated and it transiently reduced the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. It could therefore be one potential tool in the prevention of atopic symptoms when used at an early stage of life. (Registration number SRCTN14869647, http://www.controlled-trials.com) Cite this as: P. Linnamaa, J. Savolainen, L. Koulu, S. Tuomasjukka, H. Kallio, B. Yang, T. Vahlberg and R. Tahvonen, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1247,1255. [source]

Influence of physical inactivity on the prevalence of hay fever

ALLERGY, Issue 11 2006
Y. Kohlhammer
Background:, Atopic diseases constitute a major public health problem, increasing constantly in frequency and severity. While treatments are improving, the main cause for an increasing trend of hay fever and its definite triggers remain unclear. The aim of our study was to assess whether physical inactivity could be a risk factor for hay fever. Methods:, We analysed data of a cohort of children aged 5,14 years at baseline (1992,1993) who were followed up until 2003,2005. Parental-reported information on physical activity (being active, doing sports) was obtained for 2429 children participating at the baseline survey (active: n = 1923; semi-active: n = 364; inactive: n = 142). A total of 1703 children (70.1%) were reapproached at least once during follow-up. Logistic regression models were applied to study associations between hay fever, allergic sensitization and physical activity, adjusted for potentially relevant confounders such as age, gender, study site, parental education, breastfeeding, crowding, daycare, dampness or visible moulds, contact to cats, current or prior environmental tobacco smoke exposure and parental atopy. Results:, Significantly higher rates of hay fever were seen for inactive children [aOR 2.39 (95% CI 1.31,4.36) for baseline survey 1992,1993 and aOR 1.76 (95% CI 1.14,2.71) for the follow-up-period until 2005]. In addition, the relative risk of incident cases of hay fever increased depending on inactivity [aRR 1.50 (95% CI 1.05,2.13)]. No association was found between physical inactivity and allergic sensitization assessed by radioallergosorbent test determinations. Conclusions:, Although the underlying biological mechanisms could not be clarified, increasing physical activity in childhood is suggested to prevent hay fever. [source]

Dietary intake in sensitized children with recurrent wheeze and healthy controls: a nested case,control study

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2006
C. S. Murray
Background:, The rising prevalence of asthma and allergic disease remains unexplained. Several risk factors have been implicated including diet, in particular poly-unsaturated fats and antioxidant intake. Methods:, A nested case,control study comparing the dietary intake of sensitized children with recurrent wheeze (age 3,5 years) and nonsensitized children who had never wheezed was carried out within an unselected population-based cohort. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, parental atopy, indoor allergen exposure and pet ownership. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and nutrient analysis program. Results:, Thirty-seven case,control pairs (23 male, mean age 4.4 years) participated. Daily total polyunsaturated fat intake was significantly higher in sensitized wheezers (g/day, geometric mean, 95% confidence intervals: 7.1, 6.4,7.9) compared with nonsensitized nonwheezy children (5.6, 5.0,6.3, P = 0.003). Daily omega-3 and omega-6 fat intakes were not significantly different between the two groups. No significant differences were found in intake of any antioxidant or antioxidant cofactors between the groups. Conclusions:, Young sensitized wheezy children had a significantly higher total polyunsaturated fat intake compared with nonsensitized nonwheezy children. However, we were unable to distinguish a significant difference in specific poly-unsaturated fat intakes. Otherwise the children in both groups had a very similar nutritional intake. [source]

Environmental factors, parental atopy and atopic eczema in primary-school children: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan

Do parents with an atopic family history adopt a ,prudent' lifestyle for their infant? (KOALA Study)

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2006
I. Kummeling
Summary Background Atopic parents may adopt lifestyle characteristics that allegedly protect against atopic disease. If this is true, infants from atopic parents will be characterized by low-risk behaviour. Consequently, aetiologic studies on lifestyle factors and allergic disease in childhood may be biased by confounding by indication. Objective We explored whether the prevalence of ,prudent' lifestyle characteristics differs between atopic and non-atopic families. Methods Information about a family history of atopic manifestations and lifestyle characteristics was collected by repeated questionnaires in the Dutch KOALA Birth Cohort Study in 2469 infants from families with divergent lifestyle practices (conventional vs. alternative). Results In conventional lifestyle families, infants were less often exposed to environmental tobacco smoke when parents were atopic than when they were non-atopic (10.0% vs. 14.7%, P=0.001). In alternative lifestyle families, exposure to smoking was very rare in both groups (1.7% vs. 2.6%). Pets were less often present in families with than without parental atopy (38.8% vs. 51.1%, P=0.008 for conventional lifestyle families; 43.0% vs. 48.4%, P=0.014 for alternative lifestyle families). Infants with atopic siblings had less often been vaccinated according to the standard scheme than infants with non-atopic siblings in conventional lifestyle families (76.6% vs. 85.5%, P<0.001). In alternative lifestyle families, the difference was in the same direction but not statistically significant (30.1% vs. 40.5%, P=0.143). Antibiotic use, breastfeeding and consumption of organic foods were unrelated to a family history of atopic manifestations. Conclusion Some ,prudent' lifestyle characteristics differed between atopic and non-atopic families, depending on whether atopic manifestations were present in parents or older siblings. This has important consequences for the validity in epidemiological studies on the aetiology of allergy in children. Confounding by indication because of a family history of atopic manifestations can best be controlled for by considering atopy in parents and siblings as separate confounders. [source]

Fecal microbiota in sensitized wheezy and non-sensitized non-wheezy children: a nested case,control study

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 6 2005
C. S. Murray
Summary Background It has been suggested that intestinal microbiota of allergic and non-allergic children differs in composition, and that microbiota,immune system interactions may predispose children to develop sensitization. Previous studies have examined fecal microbiota of allergic children with atopic dermatitis, but little is known about that of atopic wheezy children. Objective To investigate the composition of the fecal microbiota of young sensitized wheezy and non-sensitized non-wheezy children, using molecular methods. Methods Within the context of a prospective birth cohort, we carried out a nested case,control study of sensitized wheezy children (cases) and non-sensitized non-wheezy controls. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, parental atopy, allergen exposure, and pet ownership. We evaluated the composition of fecal microbiota by nucleic acid-based methods (PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantification of bifidobacteria by fluorescent in situ hybridization). Results Thirty-three case,control pairs (mean age 4.4 years) provided stool samples. Comparison of total bacterial community profiles showed that each child had a unique fecal microbiota (mean Dice's similarity coefficient 22%, range 3.3,60.8%). There was no difference between the groups in prevalence of Lactic Acid bacteria (12/33 vs. 11/33, P=0.8) or bifidobacteria (30/33 vs. 31/33, P=1.00, cases vs. controls). The bifidobacterial species detected were similar in both groups. The percentage of bifidobacteria in total fecal microflora was no different between cases (median 1.7%, range 0,20.8%) and controls (1.9%, 0,18.2%, P=0.7). However, cases with eczema had significantly fewer bifidobacteria (median 1.6%, range 0,4.8%) than their controls (4.0%, 1.9,18.2%, P=0.05). Conclusion We found no differences in fecal microbiota composition between sensitized wheezy and non-sensitized, non-wheezy children aged 3,5 years using nucleic acid-based methods. Differences appear to be isolated to those allergic children with eczema. [source]