Allergy in day care children: prevalence and environmental risk factors

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica 2009-05, Vol.98 (5), p.817-822
• Main Authors: Hatakka, Katja, Piirainen, Laura, Pohjavuori, Sara, Poussa, Tuija, Savilahti, Erkki, Korpela, Riitta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Atopic diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Feeding - epidemiology; Breastfeeding; Child; Child Day Care Centers - statistics & numerical data; Child, Preschool; Children; Cross-Sectional Studies; Day care; Environment; Environmental factors; Epidemiology; Family Characteristics; Finland - epidemiology; General aspects; Humans; Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Infant; Logistic Models; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Prevalence; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Factors; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Urban Population
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.01198.x

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of atopic disease among Finnish day care children and the relationship between atopy and environmental factors. Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 594 day care children aged 1–6 years from Helsinki, Finland. Each child's history of atopic diseases and environmental exposure was collected in a questionnaire completed by the parents. Results: The prevalence of diagnosed asthma was 0.9% for the 1–3‐year olds and 5.5% for the 4–6‐year olds, atopic eczema/dermatis was 16% in both groups, and allergic rhinitis 5% in the younger group, 9% in the older group. According to multivariable logistic regression models, breastfeeding (exclusive ≥4 months or partial ≥6 months) reduced the risk of atopic diseases (OR = 0.60; CI95 0.39–0.93, p = 0.021). Atopic diseases were more common in the oldest age group, 5–6‐year olds, compared to the youngest, 1–2‐year olds (OR = 2.18; CI95 1.14–4.15, p = 0.018). One parent with atopic disease increased the child's risk (OR = 1.89; CI95 1.20–2.97, p = 0.006), more so if both parents had a history (OR = 3.17; CI95 1.48–6.78, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that breastfeeding for at least six months may protect against atopic diseases. The child's greater age (5–6 years) and parental history of atopic diseases increased the risk of atopy.