Allergic disease and sensitization in Steiner school children.
BACKGROUND
The anthroposophic lifestyle has several features of interest in relation to allergy: for example, a restrictive use of antibiotics and certain vaccinations. In a previous Swedish study, Steiner school children (who often have an anthroposophic lifestyle) showed a reduced risk of atopy, but specific protective factors could not be identified.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors that may contribute to the lower risk of allergy among Steiner school children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional multicenter study including 6630 children age 5 to 13 years (4606 from Steiner schools and 2024 from reference schools) in 5 European countries.


RESULTS
The prevalence of several studied outcomes was lower in Steiner school children than in the reference group. Overall, there were statistically significant reduced risks for rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and atopic sensitization (allergen-specific IgE > or =0.35 kU/L), with some heterogeneity between the countries. Focusing on doctor-diagnosed disease, use of antibiotics during first year of life was associated with increased risks of rhinoconjunctivitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.97; 95% CI, 1.26-3.08), asthma (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.03-3.83), and atopic eczema (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.22-2.17). Early use of antipyretics was related to an increased risk of asthma (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.13) and atopic eczema (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02-1.71). Children having received measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination showed an increased risk of rhinoconjunctivitis, whereas measles infection was associated with a lower risk of IgE-mediated eczema.


CONCLUSIONS
Certain features of the anthroposophic lifestyle, such as restrictive use of antibiotics and antipyretics, are associated with a reduced risk of allergic disease in children.
Flöistrup
Helen
H
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Helen.Floistrup@ki.se
Swartz
Jackie
J
Bergström
Anna
A
Alm
Johan S
JS
Scheynius
Annika
A
van Hage
Marianne
M
Waser
Marco
M
Braun-Fahrländer
Charlotte
C
Schram-Bijkerk
Dieneke
D
Huber
Machteld
M
Zutavern
Anne
A
von Mutius
Erika
E
Ublagger
Ellen
E
Riedler
Josef
J
Michaels
Karin B
KB
Pershagen
Göran
G
D000293:Adolescent; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine