Infants born during COVID-19 pandemic experience increased susceptibility to airway hyperresponsiveness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy are type 2 inflammation diseases. Since the 1960s, the prevalence of those diseases has steadily increased, presumably due to the "Hygiene hypothesis" which suggests that early exposure of infants to pathogens, siblings, and environmental dust, has a protective effect against the development of allergic diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic increased environmental hygiene due to lockdowns, masks, and social distancing.

Objective

To compare the prevalence of allergic diseases among children born before and during the pandemic.

Methods

The Cow's Milk Early Exposure Trial prospectively followed newborns until 12-months of age using monthly survey and examined milk allergy development. Some were born befo

SUBMITTER: Lachover-Roth I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11683114 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature