Gastroenteritis during infancy is a novel risk factor for allergic disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Microbiome Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Infant intestinal microbiota is influenced by early-life exposures like antibiotics and breastfeeding, impacting allergic disease risk.
• The relationship between early-life gastroenteritis (GE) and subsequent allergic diseases remains under-investigated.
• Gastroenteritis (GE) in infancy can alter the developing gut microbiome, potentially influencing immune system maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between early-life gastroenteritis (GE) and the incidence of allergic diseases in children.
• To compare the rates of asthma (AS), allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants with and without early GE.
• To explore potential sex-based differences in the association between early GE and allergic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a national database from Taiwan, analyzing data from 45,499 males and 49,430 females from birth to 5 years.
• Categorized infants into early GE (0-6 months) and non-early GE groups.
• Evaluated and compared the 5-year incidence of AS, AR, and AD, adjusting for later GE and other factors.

Main Results:

• Children with early GE exhibited significantly higher rates of AS (OR 1.54), AR (OR 1.49), and AD (OR 1.40) compared to the non-early GE group.
• The increased risk of allergic diseases associated with early GE was more prominent in females than in males.
• Effective management of GE in subsequent years was associated with a reduced rate of allergic disease in children with a history of early GE.

Conclusions:

• Early-life gastroenteritis (GE) is a significant risk factor for developing asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis later in childhood.
• The association between early GE and allergic diseases is stronger in females.
• Controlling gastroenteritis in early life may be a strategy to reduce the burden of allergic diseases.