Abstract
Preliminary results are presented on 940 consecutively born children at the age of four years. One hundred and thirty seven, 14.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (12.3%, 16.8%) had asthma (recurrent cough and wheezing), One hundred and nine, 11.6%, 95% CI (9.6%, 13.6%) had atopic eczema, fifty eight, 6.2%, 95% CI (4.7%, 7.9%) had allergic rhinitis, forty five, 4.8%, 95% CI (3.5%, 6.4%) had food intolerance and eighteen, 1.9%, 95% CI (1.1%, 3.0%) had urticaria. The prevalence of latent atopy (positive skin prick test to common allergens without history suggestive of atopy was 7.4%, 95 CI (5.8%, 9.2%).
Skin prick tests (SPTS) were positive (wheal size ≥3 mm) to one or more common allergens in 170 out of 814 children (20.9%). SPTS were not done in 126 children. 107 (13.1%) were sensitive to housedust mite (HDM), 64 (7.9%) to grass, 46 (5.7%) to cat, 44 (5.4%) to alternaria, 23 (2.8%) to dog, 18 (2.2%) to cladosporium, 14 (1.7%) to milk, 11 (1.4%) to peanut, 9 (1.1%) to egg, 4 (0.5%) to wheat, 2 (0.2%) to soya and 10 (1.2%) to other plants, animals and foods. Only 163 (20.0%) reacted positive to histamine.
Conclusion(s) : This ongoing study looks at the evolution of atopic sensitisation in a cohort of 1250 children from birth. Positive reactions to foods are uncommon but a 1.2% positive rate for peanut is alarming in view of its persistence and potential fatality. The importance of HDM is emphasized by the substantial sensitisation to it. Moulds (Alternaria and Cladosporium) are significant allergens after dog and cat. Next follow up will be at age 7.
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Hakim, E., Hide, D., Matthews, S. et al. 314 Prevalence of Allergic Disorders and Sensitisation to Cannon Allergens at age Four Years. Pediatr Res 36, 55 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00314
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00314