Factors associated with acute respiratory illness in day care children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between child characteristics, parental and environmental factors and the occurrence of acute respiratory illness (ARI) and acute otitis media (AOM) among Finnish children attending day care centres (DCCs). The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire of 594 children aged 1-6 y from 18 DCCs in Helsinki, Finland. Recurrent (> or =4 diseases/y) ARI was present in 44% of the 1-3-y-olds and 23% of the 4-6-y-olds, and recurrent AOM in 15% and 2.

Breastfeeding stimulates total and cow's milk-specific salivary IgA in infants.

Breastfeeding may increase the rate of mucosal maturation and IgA production. We sought to determine the effect of breastfeeding vs. formula-feeding on the maturation of oral mucosa by measuring the salivary total antibodies and cow's milk protein-specific IgA.

Allergy in day care children: prevalence and environmental risk factors.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of atopic disease among Finnish day care children and the relationship between atopy and environmental factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 594 day care children aged 1-6 years from Helsinki, Finland. Each child's history of atopic diseases and environmental exposure was collected in a questionnaire completed by the parents.

In school-aged children a combination of galacto-oligosaccharides and Lactobacillus GG increases bifidobacteria more than Lactobacillus GG on its own.

The aim of this study was to compare a combination of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) with LGG on its own, and their effects on the intestinal microbiota in school-aged children. The randomized, double-blinded, crossover study comprised 30 healthy children. There were two 3-week study periods with a 4-week wash-out period in between.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on rBet v1 and rMal d1 specific IgA in the saliva of patients with birch pollen allergy.

Background: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) has demonstrated promising results in the treatment and prevention of atopic eczema.

Objective: To study the effects of LGG on the oral immune response in adolescents and adults with birch pollen allergy combined with oral allergy syndrome.

Methods: Patients received either LGG (n = 19) or a placebo (n = 19) for 5.