A case-control study of food hyper-sensitivity, timing of weaning and family history of allergies in young children with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between food hypersensitivity and atopic dermatitis (AD) in young children.


METHODS
In a case-control design, 28 patients < 3 years old, with AD and 28 age-matched healthy children were included in the study. A detailed medical history of allergies and timing of weaning was obtained. Children underwent skin tests (prick and patch) to evaluate food hypersensitivity. The status of DA and food allergies in the study participants was investigated 4 years later.


RESULTS
There were more children with positive skin tests for food hypersensitivity among cases than controls, OR 4.2 (95%CI 1.3 to 13.4). In contrast, there were no differences in the number of children with positive family history of allergic diseases or weaned at < or = 6 months of age between groups. Four years later, out of the 28 original cases, the state of AD was investigated in 13 (46.4%) infants. Of them, 11 followed an exclusion diet; 6 (46.1%) remained with AD. Of 28 original controls, 15 (51.7%) infants were investigated 4 years later; only one case developed AD.


CONCLUSIONS
Young children who had hypersensitivity to cow's milk, hen egg, wheat, fish, soy, or legumes were found to have a higher risk of AD. Positive family history of allergies and early weaning were not found to be relevant risk factors.
Estrada-Reyes
E
E
Consulta de Alergia Pediátrica, Hospital Angeles Metropolitano, México DF, México. elizabeth.estradareyes@gmail.com
Pardo-Castañeda
M G
MG
Toledo-Bahena
M E
ME
Lerma-Ortiz
M L
ML
del Río-Navarro
B
B
Nava-Ocampo
A A
AA
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012882:Skin Tests; D014886:Weaning