Abstract
Background:
Only a few studies have systemically analyzed the association between neonatal jaundice and childhood-onset allergic diseases.
Methods:
From 2000 to 2007, 27,693 neonates with newly diagnosed neonatal jaundice and 55,367 matched nonneonatal jaundice cohorts were identified. The incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) of five allergic diseases, namely allergic conjunctivitis (AC), allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and urticaria, by the end of 2008 were calculated.
Results:
The incidence density and HRs of the five allergic diseases were greater in the neonatal jaundice cohort than in the nonneonatal jaundice cohort, and the HRs declined modestly with age. The HRs for AR (HR = 2.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.43–2.59) and AD (HR = 2.51, 95% CI = 2.40–2.62) were the highest, and that for urticaria was the lowest (HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.94–2.19). The HRs of allergic diseases were substantially greater for boys and those requiring phototherapy. The HRs of the allergic diseases, except urticaria (HR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.57–3.97), were not significantly different between the neonatal jaundice regardless of whether the patients received exchange transfusion.
Conclusion:
Neonatal jaundice is associated with the development of allergic diseases in early childhood.
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Acknowledgements
C.-C.W. and T.-C.S. conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, and approved the final submitted manuscript. C.-L.L. and C.-H.K. conducted the initial analysis, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final submitted manuscript. C.-H.K. coordinated and supervised data collection, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the final submitted manuscript.
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Wei, CC., Lin, CL., Shen, TC. et al. Neonatal jaundice and risks of childhood allergic diseases: a population-based cohort study. Pediatr Res 78, 223–230 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.89
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.89
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