title: Risk factors for wheezing, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in the previous 12 months among six-year-old children in Himeji City, Japan: food allergy, older siblings, day-care attendance and parental allergy history.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to clarify whether some environmental and genetic factors (food allergy, older siblings, early day-care attendance and parents' allergy history) are related to the development of allergic symptoms (wheezing in the previous 12 months [WP], eczema symptoms in the previous 12 months [EP], and rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms in the previous 12 months [RP]) in Japanese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the modified version of the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISSAC) questionnaire, we studied the prevalence of WP, EP and RP among six-year-old children attending 72 primary schools throughout Himeji City, Japan, during the two years from 2005 to 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Food allergy and parents' history of allergy showed a significant relationship with the prevalence of WP, EP and RP. Day-care attendance in the first two years of life and presence of older siblings showed a significant inverse relationship with the prevalence of RP. However, neither day-care attendance nor presence of older siblings was related to the development of W and ER.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among Japanese children, food allergy and parents' history of allergy are risk factors for WP, ES or RS. However, early day-care attendance and presence of older siblings might be protective factors against RS. Infections in early life may affect the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in six-year-old children.
authors.affiliation: Himeji Medical Association, Hyogo, Japan. fkurosaka@rose.sannet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kurosaka
authors.forename: Tadayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Jittoku
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mogami
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Hisahide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires