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Asthma and Allergies in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Results From the CHARGE Study

Kristen Lyall1, Judy Van de Water2, Paul Ashwood2

  • 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Univeristy of California, Davis, California, 95616 (K.L., I.H.P.).

Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research
|February 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Food allergies are more common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These allergies may correlate with increased stereotyped behaviors in children with ASD, suggesting a potential link between immune responses and autism characteristics.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Immune system aberrations are frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • The relationship between asthma, allergies, and ASD remains incompletely understood.
  • Investigating these connections is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of ASD comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between asthma and allergies and ASD.
  • To explore these associations within specific phenotypic subsets of ASD.
  • To determine if allergies correlate with cognitive and behavioral scores in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 560 children with confirmed ASD and 391 typically developing controls.
  • Data collected from the CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study.
  • Maternally reported asthma and allergy data were compared between groups and correlated with behavioral assessments.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in asthma or overall allergy prevalence between children with ASD and controls.
  • Overall allergy in children with ASD was linked to higher stereotypy scores (Aberrant Behavior Checklist).
  • Reported food allergies showed a significant association with ASD (aOR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.28–3.89).

Conclusions:

  • Food allergies and sensitivities appear to be more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder.
  • These allergic conditions may correlate with specific behavioral characteristics, such as stereotypy, in children with ASD.
  • Further research into the interplay of immune function and behavior in ASD is warranted.

Keywords:
allergyasthmaautismfood allergy

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