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Short stature in children with respiratory allergy
C A Sant'Anna1, D Solé, C K Naspitz
1Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola, Paulista de Medicina, Brazil.
Insights
Short stature (SS) affects nearly 8% of children with respiratory allergies. Longer disease duration and low birth weight are linked to SS, suggesting allergies may impact growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Genetics
Background:
- Short stature (SS) is a concern in pediatric populations.
- Respiratory allergic diseases like asthma and rhinitis are common in children.
- The potential link between allergic conditions and growth impairment requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of short stature (SS) in children with respiratory allergic diseases.
- To explore associations between SS and various factors including gender, disease characteristics, corticosteroid treatment, and birth weight.
- To assess the influence of socioeconomic status and the intrinsic effect of allergic disease on SS.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 617 children (8 months to 16 years) with respiratory allergies was evaluated for SS (stature < 3rd percentile).
- Factors analyzed included gender, age, allergy type/severity/duration, corticosteroid use, and birth weight.
- A subgroup of 120 patients was compared with their non-allergic siblings to evaluate socioeconomic and intrinsic disease effects.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of SS was 7.9% among children with respiratory allergies.
- No significant relationship was found between SS and gender, allergy severity, or corticosteroid treatment.
- A higher frequency of SS was observed in patients with a longer duration of allergic disease and birth weight below 2,500 grams.
- Comparison with siblings revealed a significantly higher SS prevalence in allergic children (12.5% vs. 4.2%), indicating the allergic disease itself contributes.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory allergic diseases are associated with a higher prevalence of short stature in children.
- Longer disease duration and low birth weight are risk factors for SS in this population.
- Further longitudinal studies are necessary to fully elucidate the relationship between atopic disease and growth impairment.
Abstract:
We evaluated the prevalence of short stature (SS) among children with respiratory allergic disease followed up in a specialised centre. These patients (N = 617; 8 months to 16 years) with respiratory allergy (asthma and/or rhinitis) were evaluated for SS (stature shorter than the 3rd percentile, NCHS pattern). The possible links between SS and gender; current age; type, severity, and duration of the allergic disease, treatment with corticosteroid and birth weight were also studied. To assess the influence of the socioeconomic level on SS frequency among atopics, 120 of these patients were compared to their non-atopics siblings. The overall prevalence of SS was 7.9%. Relationship between SS and gender type and severity of the allergic disease and treatment with corticosteroids were not observed. A significant higher frequency of SS occurred among patients with longer period of disease and birth weight less than 2,500 gr. Analysis of the pairs of brothers showed significant higher frequency of SS between allergics (12.5% x 4.2%) showing influence of allergic disease per se. Longitudinal studies for long periods of time are required to properly establish the relation between atopic disease and SS.