Early-life risk factors for childhood wheeze phenotypes in a high-risk birth cohort.

Objective: To define longitudinal childhood wheeze phenotypes and identify their early-life risk factors.

Study Design: Current wheeze was recorded 23 times up to age 7 years in a birth cohort at high risk for allergy (n = 620). Latent class analysis of wheeze responses identified 5 classes.

House dust mite sensitization in toddlers predicts current wheeze at age 12 years.

Background: Identification of children at risk of developing asthma provides a window of opportunity for risk-reducing interventions. Allergen sensitization might identify high-risk children.

Objective: We sought to determine whether skin prick tests (SPTs) to individual allergens up to age 2 years predict wheeze at age 12 years.

Effect of a partially hydrolyzed whey infant formula at weaning on risk of allergic disease in high-risk children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Partially hydrolyzed whey formula (pHWF) has been recommended for infants with a family history of allergic disease at the cessation of exclusive breast-feeding to promote oral tolerance and prevent allergic diseases.

Objective: To determine whether feeding infants pHWF reduces their risk of allergic disease.

Methods: A single-blind (participant) randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare allergic outcomes between infants fed a conventional cow's milk formula, a pHWF, or a soy formula.

Paracetamol use in early life and asthma: prospective birth cohort study.

Objective: To determine if use of paracetamol in early life is an independent risk factor for childhood asthma.

Design: Prospective birth cohort study.

Setting: Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study.

Do boys do the atopic march while girls dawdle?

Background: The atopic march hypothesis suggests that infants with eczema are at increased risk of asthma. Others argue that eczema is not a risk factor for asthma unless there is also sensitization or early wheezing.

Objective: To examine the role of infantile eczema as a predictor of risk of childhood asthma, while allowing for the effects of early wheeze, sensitization, and sex, both as independent effects and possible effect modifiers.

Early clinical predictors of remission of peanut allergy in children.

Background: Understanding predictors of clinical remission would assist in clinical management of peanut allergy.

Objective: We sought to determine the early clinical predictors of peanut allergy remission using a longitudinal cohort of young children with peanut allergy.

Methods: Consecutive patients less than 2 years of age with peanut allergy were identified on the basis of skin prick test (SPT) wheal size of 95% positive predictive value or greater.

Atopic disease and breast-feeding--cause or consequence?

Background: A number of studies have observed an association between breast-feeding and increased risk of development of asthma and eczema. It has been proposed that these results might be due to early signs of atopic disease in the infant causing mothers to prolong breast-feeding.

Objective: We sought to determine whether early symptoms of atopic disease (eczema, food reaction, or asthma) or positive skin prick test responses reduce the likelihood of ceasing breast-feeding.

Effect of a low-allergen maternal diet on colic among breastfed infants: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: There is controversy regarding whether hypersensitivity to food proteins contributes to colic among breastfed infants.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial of a low-allergen maternal diet was conducted among exclusively breastfed infants presenting with colic. In the active arm, mothers excluded cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and fish from their diet; mothers in the control group continued to consume these foods.

The diagnostic value of skin prick testing in children with food allergy.

The diagnostic accuracy of the skin prick test (SPT) in food allergy is controversial. We have developed diagnostic cut-off levels for SPT in children with allergy to cow milk, egg and peanut. Based on 555 open food challenges in 467 children (median age 3.

Cow's milk allergy in infancy.

Cow's milk allergy affects approximately 2% of infants under 2 years of age. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding its pathophysiology and immunological mechanisms. Apart from IgE-mediated atopic manifestations, T cell-mediated reactions have been demonstrated in infants with cow's milk allergy.