Abstract
Background: During recent decades the frequency of atopic diseases has been increasing and the cause of allergy is multi-factorial. Its expression appears to be the outcome of an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. However the problem of the influence of the course of pregnancy and delivery on the occurrence of allergic diseases has been studied by few authors. Furthermore the results are controversial.
Aim: To assess if the course of pregnancy and delivery can influence the development of allergy during the first year of life.
Methods: This prospective study included 189 infants followed up during the first 12 months of life. We evaluated pregnancy complications, delivery way, sex, birth weight, gestational age and Apgar score (with a questionnaire) and the appearance of atopic symptoms (check visits).
Results: Atopic symptoms occurred in 93 infants (49,2%)- 48,9% boys, 49,5% girls. The children born by mothers with complicated pregnancy had atopic symptoms in 54% (n=54) vs 44% (n=39) with correct pregnancies (p=0,2). The allergy affected 62,5% children born by caesarian section and 46,5%- by vaginal delivery (p=0,1). Among neonates whose birth weight was <3300g the atopy was present in 31,8%, for 3300–3690g in 55,2% and for >3700g -61% (p=0.01). The longer gestation was related to higher percentage of infants demonstrating allergy symptoms - from 0% for <36Hbd up to 56% for 40Hbd (p=0,2). The children, who scored <8 points in Apgar scale suffered from allergy in 44,4%(n=4), while those who scored >8 -49,4%(n=89).
Conclusions: 1)Almost half of the babies presented atopic symptoms during the first year of life. 2)The factors that correlate with the occurrence of atopic symptoms are: complicated pregnancies, caesarian section, large birth weight and delivery at term. 3)No correlation between the development of allergy and the Apgar score or sex has been observed.
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Sybilski, A., Samolinski, B. & Milczewska, J. 367 Complication of Pregnancy, Mode of Delivery and Development of Atopic Disease During the First Year of Life.. Pediatr Res 58, 417 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00396
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00396
