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Infants born during COVID-19 pandemic experience increased susceptibility to airway hyperresponsiveness

Idit Lachover-Roth1,2, Anat Cohen-Engler1, Yael Furman2,3

  • 1Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.

Frontiers in Allergy
|December 31, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly alter the prevalence of atopic diseases in infants. However, infants born after restrictions eased showed a higher incidence of airway hyperresponsiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Type 2 inflammation diseases, including asthma and food allergy, have increased since the 1960s.
  • The
  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased hygiene measures globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of allergic diseases in children born before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To investigate the impact of pandemic-related hygiene on infant allergic disease development.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective follow-up of newborns in the Cow's Milk Early Exposure Trial until 12 months of age.
  • Monthly surveys collected data on atopic comorbidity development.
  • Infants were categorized based on birth date relative to COVID-19 lockdowns in Israel.

Main Results:

  • 1,989 infants completed follow-up; 1,086 (54.5%) developed at least one atopic disease.
  • No significant difference in atopic comorbidity prevalence between infants born before or during the pandemic.
  • Infants born after restrictions eased showed a significantly higher incidence of airway hyperresponsiveness (68.9%).

Conclusions:

  • Infant exposure to increased hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly alter atopic comorbidity development.
  • A higher incidence of airway hyperresponsiveness was observed in infants born after pandemic restrictions were lifted.
  • Longer follow-up is necessary to fully understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 restrictions on atopic disease development.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19airway hyper responsivenessallergyatopic comorbiditieshygiene hypothesis

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