Younger pubertal age is associated with allergy and other atopic conditions in girls.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early menarche is linked to higher incidence of adult asthma, suggesting that earlier puberty may influence type 2 immune response characteristics of allergic diseases. We examined the hypothesis that timing of breast and pubic hair development, which precede menarche, is associated with increased childhood atopic conditions.

Methods

Girls were enrolled at 6-8 yr of age (2004-2007) in the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program Puberty Study and were followed through 2011. Pubertal stages were assessed and atopic conditions were queried annually. Associations of age at pubertal stage 2 for breast or pubic hair development with atopic conditions were assessed using prevalence ratios (PR) or odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from log-bino

SUBMITTER: Hong CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4321790 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature