Daycare attendance, asthma and atopy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Asthma and atopy are significant health concerns in childhood.
• The role of early life environmental exposures, such as daycare, is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on the relationship between daycare attendance and the development of asthma and atopy in children.
• To synthesize findings from studies examining asthma, skin prick test (SPT) reactivity, radioallergosorbent test (RAST) positivity, hay fever, and eczema in relation to daycare.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline and BIBSYS databases (January 1966 to January 2000).
• Studies were included if they combined terms related to daycare (daycare, nursery, kindergarten) with 'asthma' or 'atopy'.
• Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, analyzing various outcomes including asthma, SPT reactivity, RAST, hay fever, and eczema.

Main Results:

• Five of six studies reported a positive association between daycare attendance and asthma, though statistical significance varied.
• One study indicated that early daycare start might protect against later asthma development.
• A weak, non-significant positive association was observed between daycare and atopy (SPT reactivity) in two of three studies.
• Early daycare in small families showed a protective effect against atopy.

Conclusions:

• The current evidence regarding the relationship between daycare attendance and childhood asthma and atopy is inconclusive.
• Variations in study quality and design limit direct comparisons and definitive conclusions.
• Further well-designed research is necessary to clarify the specific impact of daycare on asthma and atopy development.