Effects of early-life exposure to allergens and bacteria on recurrent wheeze and atopy in urban children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wheezing illnesses cause major morbidity in infants and are frequent precursors to asthma.

Objective

We sought to examine environmental factors associated with recurrent wheezing in inner-city environments.

Methods

The Urban Environment and Childhood Asthma study examined a birth cohort at high risk for asthma (n = 560) in Baltimore, Boston, New York, and St Louis. Environmental assessments included allergen exposure and, in a nested case-control study of 104 children, the bacterial content of house dust collected in the first year of life. Associations were determined among environmental factors, aeroallergen sensitization, and recurrent wheezing at age 3 years.

Results

Cumulative allergen exposure over the first 3 years was associated with allergic

SUBMITTER: Lynch SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4151305 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature