Delay in diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of childhood asthma.

Background: Early childhood immunizations have been viewed as promoters of asthma development by stimulating a T(H)2-type immune response or decreasing microbial pressure, which shifts the balance between T(H)1 and T(H)2 immunity.

Objective: Differing time schedules for childhood immunizations may explain the discrepant findings of an association with asthma reported in observational studies. This research was undertaken to determine whether timing of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) immunization has an effect on the development of childhood asthma by age 7 years.

Transient tachypnea of the newborn may be an early clinical manifestation of wheezing symptoms.

Objective: To determine risk factors associated with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and whether TTN is associated with development of wheezing syndromes in early life.

Study Design: The Population Health Research Data Repository at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy is a healthcare administrative and prescription database. Data for children diagnosed with a wheezing syndrome (defined as bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, or prescription for asthma medication) were obtained.

The risk of developing food allergy in premature or low-birth-weight children.

Background: Premature or low-birth-weight children have increased gut permeability compared with term or normal-birth-weight children.

Objective: To determine whether premature or low-birth-weight children have an increased risk of developing food allergy compared with term or normal-birth-weight children.

Methods: The 1995 Manitoba Birth Cohort was studied using the Manitoba Health Services Insurance Plan (MHSIP) database.