Related Experiment Videos
Atopic dermatitis and concomitant disease patterns in children up to two years of age
Maria Böhme1, Eva Lannerö, Magnus Wickman
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Karolinska Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Maria.Bohme@ood.ki.se
Insights
Infants with atopic dermatitis show higher risks for asthma, allergic conditions, and respiratory infections like pneumonia and ear infections. Early onset of atopic dermatitis in the first year is linked to more atopic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Prospective studies on early childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and co-existing conditions are limited.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention and management in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis and its association with other atopic diseases and respiratory infections in children up to two years of age.
- To analyze the impact of early-onset atopic dermatitis on the development of these conditions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective birth cohort study of 4089 children.
- Data collected via annual questionnaires from birth up to two years of age.
- Statistical analysis of associations between atopic dermatitis and various health outcomes.
Main Results:
- Atopic dermatitis was significantly associated with asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, adverse food reactions, and urticaria.
- Children with atopic dermatitis had increased rates of acute otitis media, recurrent pneumonia, and antibiotic use.
- The association with respiratory infections remained significant even after controlling for asthma.
Conclusions:
- Atopic dermatitis in the first two years of life is strongly linked to other atopic conditions and respiratory infections.
- Early-onset atopic dermatitis (within the first year) is associated with a higher burden of atopic manifestations.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring for respiratory infections in infants diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.
Abstract:
There are few prospective studies of atopic dermatitis and co-existing diseases such as respiratory infections in children up to 2 years of age. Using annual questionnaires, we studied the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis and concomitant symptoms indicating other atopic diseases and respiratory infections in 0-2-year-old children in a prospective birth cohort of 4089 children. We found associations between atopic dermatitis and asthma (ratio of proportion 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.80), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (RP 2.25, CI 1.77-2.85), adverse reactions to foods (RP 3.20, CI 2.83-3.62), urticaria (RP 2.04, CI 1.80-2.31), acute otitis media (RP 1.13, CI 1.05-1.21), more than one pneumonia during the first and/or second year of life (RP 2.17, CI 1.14-4.15), and use of antibiotics at least twice yearly (RP 1.29, CI 1.07-1.56). The association between atopic dermatitis and respiratory infections persisted after stratification for asthma. There was a higher proportion of atopic disease manifestations, but not respiratory infections, in children with onset of atopic dermatitis during the first year of life than during the second. The study shows that during the first 2 years of life there is a significant association not only between atopic dermatitis and other atopic disease manifestations, but also between atopic dermatitis and respiratory infections manifested in an increased rate of acute otitis media, pneumonia and use of antibiotics.