Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
08:46

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

Published on: August 12, 2020

Eczema, birth order, and infection

Ann Maree Hughes1, Simon Crouch, Tracy Lightfoot

  • 1Epidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom.

American Journal of Epidemiology
|March 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood infections are linked to a higher risk of eczema development. This association is particularly evident in second-born or later children, suggesting infection plays a role in eczema risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Dermatology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Eczema is a common childhood condition with complex etiology.
  • The role of early life infections in eczema development is debated.
  • Birth order has been previously associated with eczema risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infections in the first two years of life and eczema development.
  • To examine if birth order modifies the relationship between early infections and eczema.
  • To explore the influence of early infectious exposures on the birth order-eczema association.

Main Methods:

  • National population-based case-control study in the United Kingdom (1991-1996).
  • Inclusion of 1,782 control children.
  • Ascertainment of eczema and infection diagnoses from primary care records.

Main Results:

  • Children diagnosed with eczema before age 2 had more recorded infections (rate ratio = 1.26).
  • The difference in infection rates was observed from birth through the first two years.
  • The infection-eczema link was significant only in children of second or higher birth order (rate ratio = 1.45), not firstborns (rate ratio = 1.08).

Conclusions:

  • Early life infections are associated with an increased risk of eczema.
  • The association between birth order and eczema is unlikely due to variations in early infectious exposure.
  • Infection appears to be a significant factor in eczema development, particularly in later-born children.

More Related Videos

A Standardized Procedure of Dressing Management for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis07:22

A Standardized Procedure of Dressing Management for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Published on: March 14, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...