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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Early Respiratory Infection Burden and Atopic Dermatitis in Childhood
Nicklas Brustad1,2, Tingting Wang1, Tamo Sultan1
1Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC), Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
JAMA Dermatology
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Early respiratory infections increase the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. This dose-dependent association suggests a significant link between early infections and AD development, impacting long-term health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The exposome, encompassing environmental exposures, is implicated in atopic dermatitis (AD) development.
- The specific role of early-life infections in the risk of childhood AD remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the burden of early-life infections and subtypes of infections with the risk of developing childhood AD.
- To analyze this association in two independent birth cohorts.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study design was employed, analyzing data from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC2010) and the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART) cohorts.
- Infection episodes (e.g., respiratory infections, fever) and AD diagnoses were recorded from birth up to age 10 years.
- Statistical analyses, including generalized estimating equation (GEE) models, were used, adjusting for filaggrin gene (FLG) variants and antibiotic use.
Main Results:
- Higher infection burden in early life was significantly associated with an increased risk of AD diagnosis in both cohorts.
- Specifically, respiratory infections showed a dose-dependent relationship with AD risk.
- Each infection episode independently increased AD risk, irrespective of FLG status or antibiotic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Early-life respiratory infection burden is a significant risk factor for childhood atopic dermatitis.
- The findings establish a clear, dose-dependent relationship between early respiratory infections and AD diagnosis.
- This research clarifies a previously unclear association, highlighting the impact of early environmental exposures on AD development.
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