Effect of early atopic sensitization in children aged 0-2 years on the development of asthma symptoms at 9-11 years of age.

Abstract

Personal genetic predisposition and early life environmental factors are important for the development of childhood asthma. We aimed to search whether egg, milk and mite sensitizations at 0-2years old are risk factors for asthma symptoms at 9-11years old. A total of 210 wheezer children who had specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E in 2010-2012 were included in the study (followed by pediatric allergy). Patients were divided into non-atopic (group1, n = 157) and atopic patients [groups2-7, n = 53 (5 patients were in both group4 and group5)] based on sensitizations. Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood questionnaire, current wheeze (CW, 2nd question), exercise wheezing (EW, 7th question), and dry cough (DC, 8th question) were surveyed. Also, parental allergies, eczema at 0-2years, current eosinophil percentage and total IgE were recorded. Eczema was observed as an important risk factor [CW: odds ratio (OR) = 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.54-5.23, P ≤ 0.001; EW: OR = 2.71, 95% CI= 1.33-5.54, P = 0.006; DC: OR = 3.03, 95% CI= 1.47-6.25, P = 0.003], whereas having no atopic sensitization at 0-2-year-old (group1) was found as a significant protective factor for asthma at 9-11years old (CW: OR = 0.32, 95% CI= 0.15-0.70, P = 0.004; EW: OR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.44, P ≤ 0.001; DC: OR = 0.25, 95% CI= 0.10-0.59, P = 0.002). Early personal eczema is a significant risk factor for the development of asthma symptoms at 9-11years old, whereas not having an allergic sensitization at 0-2years old (group1) is an important protective factor.