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Birth-related factors and doctor-diagnosed wheezing and allergic sensitization in early childhood

L Keski-Nisula1, A Karvonen, P I Pfefferle

  • 1Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland. leea.keski-nisula@kuh.fi

Allergy
|February 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Longer ruptured fetal membranes before birth increased wheezing risk in children. Cesarean delivery was linked to less allergic sensitization in infants compared to vaginal birth. These findings highlight birth factors influencing early childhood respiratory and allergic health.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Investigating the link between clinical obstetric factors during birth and early childhood wheezing and allergic sensitization.
  • Understanding the impact of maternal and birth-related variables on infant health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore associations between obstetric factors at birth and doctor-diagnosed wheezing.
  • To examine the relationship between birth factors and allergic sensitization in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Followed 410 Finnish mother-child pairs from late pregnancy to 18 months postpartum.
  • Collected data on maternal obstetric variables during delivery.
  • Assessed doctor-diagnosed wheezing via questionnaires and measured specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to allergens in 388 children at 1 year.

Main Results:

  • Longer duration of ruptured fetal membranes before birth significantly increased the risk of doctor-diagnosed wheezing in early childhood.
  • Children born via Cesarean delivery showed significantly less allergic sensitization at 1 year compared to those born vaginally.
  • Allergic sensitization was more common in infants with longer labor durations; other factors like induction or amniotic fluid quality were not significantly associated with outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged rupture of fetal membranes may indicate a higher risk of intrapartum infection, elevating the risk of wheezing in offspring.
  • Cesarean delivery appears to have a protective effect against allergic sensitization in early childhood.
  • Specific birth-related obstetric factors significantly influence the development of wheezing and allergic conditions in infants.
Abstract

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