Developmental profiles of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis: two population-based birth cohort studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The term "atopic march" has been used to imply a natural progression of a cascade of symptoms from eczema to asthma and rhinitis through childhood. We hypothesize that this expression does not adequately describe the natural history of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis during childhood. We propose that this paradigm arose from cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal studies, and may reflect a population pattern that may not predominate at the individual level.

Methods and findings

Data from 9,801 children in two population-based birth cohorts were used to determine individual profiles of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis and whether the manifestations of these symptoms followed an atopic march pattern. Children were assessed at ages 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11 y. We used Bayesian m

SUBMITTER: Belgrave DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204810 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature