Persistent pollen exposure during infancy is associated with increased risk of subsequent childhood asthma and hayfever. Issue 3 (17th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Erbas, B.; Lowe, A. J.; Lodge, C. J.; Matheson, M. C.; Hosking, C. S.; Hill, D. J.; Vicendese, D.; Allen, K. J.; Abramson, M. J.; Dharmage, S. C.
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 43:Issue 3(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 343
• Publication Date: 2013-02-17
• Subjects: Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.12071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="cea12071-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cea12071-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Few studies have focused on pollen exposure and asthma in children. None have examined associations between persistent exposure to pollen in infancy and aeroallergen sensitisation and asthma in childhood.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12071-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To examine the association between higher ambient levels of pollen in the first 3–6 months of life and risk of eczema, sensitization to food and aeroallergens at 2 years and asthma or hayfever at age 6–7 years combined.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12071-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Using a birth cohort of 620 infants with a family history of allergic disease born between 1990 and 1994, we examined risk of eczema or allergic sensitization (SPT > 3 mm to at least one of cow's milk, egg white, peanut, house dust‐mite, rye grass, and cat dander) by age 2 and asthma or hayfever at age 6–7. Daily ambient levels of pollen were measured during this period.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12071-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Cumulative exposure to pollen concentrations up to 6 months was associated with aeroallergen sensitization with the highest risk occurring at 3 months (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.06–1.72). Cumulative exposure to pollen up to 3 months was also associated with hayfever (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.009–1.29) and between 4 and 6 months exposure with asthma only (aOR=1.35, 95% CI 1.07–1.72).</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12071-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Persistent pollen exposure in infancy appears to increase the risk of asthma and hayfever in children. These results support the hypothesis that there is a critical window of opportunity in early development which may be important for modification of allergic outcomes.</p> </sec> </abstract>