BACKGROUND: The rising global prevalence of asthma and other allergic conditions has been linked to potential aetiological factors influencing the developing immune system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for wheeze and eczema in 1-year-old children in a birth cohort from Butajira, Ethiopia. METHODS: In 2005/6, a population-based cohort of 1065 pregnant women was established. At 1 year of age, data on wheeze and eczema in the children were collected from the mother via an interview-administered questionnaire, along with numerous demographic and lifestyle factors. A stool sample was also obtained from the child for geohelminth analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheeze was 11.5% (103/899) and eczema 8.6% (77/899). Independent predictors of wheeze were maternal allergic history [adjusted OR (AOR)=3.00, 95% CI 1.23-7.36], paternal allergic history (AOR=2.59, 95% CI 1.08-6.25), increasing household size (P for trend=0.023; AOR=3.54, 95% CI 1.31-9.56 for 7+ vs. 1-3 individuals) and paracetamol use by the child (overall P<0.001; AOR 11.04, 95% CI 4.30-28.31 for 4+ tablets in past month vs. never). Factors independently associated with eczema were maternal allergic history (AOR=3.68, 95% CI 1.54-8.77), household size (overall P=0.035; AOR=0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.87 for 4-6 individuals relative to 1-3) and place of sleeping (overall P<0.001; AOR=0.29, 95% CI 0.10-0.82 for floor vs. bed/platform). CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that eczema in early life in these children is a manifestation of allergy, while wheezing is probably due to infection as well as allergy.
BACKGROUND: The rising global prevalence of asthma and other allergic conditions has been linked to potential aetiological factors influencing the developing immune system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for wheeze and eczema in 1-year-old children in a birth cohort from Butajira, Ethiopia. METHODS: In 2005/6, a population-based cohort of 1065 pregnant women was established. At 1 year of age, data on wheeze and eczema in the children were collected from the mother via an interview-administered questionnaire, along with numerous demographic and lifestyle factors. A stool sample was also obtained from the child for geohelminth analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheeze was 11.5% (103/899) and eczema 8.6% (77/899). Independent predictors of wheeze were maternal allergic history [adjusted OR (AOR)=3.00, 95% CI 1.23-7.36], paternal allergic history (AOR=2.59, 95% CI 1.08-6.25), increasing household size (P for trend=0.023; AOR=3.54, 95% CI 1.31-9.56 for 7+ vs. 1-3 individuals) and paracetamol use by the child (overall P<0.001; AOR 11.04, 95% CI 4.30-28.31 for 4+ tablets in past month vs. never). Factors independently associated with eczema were maternal allergic history (AOR=3.68, 95% CI 1.54-8.77), household size (overall P=0.035; AOR=0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.87 for 4-6 individuals relative to 1-3) and place of sleeping (overall P<0.001; AOR=0.29, 95% CI 0.10-0.82 for floor vs. bed/platform). CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that eczema in early life in these children is a manifestation of allergy, while wheezing is probably due to infection as well as allergy.
Authors: Alemayehu Amberbir; Girmay Medhin; Atalay Alem; John Britton; Gail Davey; Andrea Venn Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2010-10-08 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Ramón Suárez-Medina; Silvia Josefina Venero-Fernández; Esperanza de la Mora-Faife; Gladys García-García; Ileana Del Valle-Infante; Liem Gómez-Marrero; Dania Fabré-Ortiz; Hermes Fundora-Hernández; Andrea Venn; John Britton; Andrew W Fogarty Journal: BMC Dermatol Date: 2014-03-25
Authors: A Amberbir; G Medhin; W E Abegaz; C Hanlon; K Robinson; A Fogarty; J Britton; A Venn; G Davey Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2014-04 Impact factor: 5.018