Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0346 |
| Title: | Exposure to farming in early life and development of asthma and allergy: a cross-sectional survey |
| Author(s): | Josef Riedler, Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer, Waltraud Eder, Mynda Schreuer, Marco Waser, Soyoun Maisch, David Carr, Rudi Schierl, Dennis Nowak, Erika von Mutius, and the ALEX Study Team |
| Reference: | Lancet 2001; 358: 1129-33 |
| Place of Study: | Austria, Germany, Switzerland |
| Abstract: | The authors aimed to establish whether increased exposure to microbial compounds has to occur early in life to reduces risk for development of allergic diseases. They did a cross-sectional survey in rural areas of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. 2618 (75%) of 3504 parents of 6-13-year-old children completed a standardised questionnaire on asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema. Children from farming families, and a random sample of non-farmers' children, who gave consent for blood samples to be obtained for measurements of specific serum IgE antibodies to common allergens were invited to participate (n=901).
Exposure of children younger than 1 year, compared with those aged 1-5 years, to stables and consumption of farm milk was associated with lower frequencies of asthma (1% [3/218] vs 11% [15/138]), hay fever (3% [7] vs 13% [18]), and atopic sensitisation (12% [27] vs 29% [40]). Protection against development of asthma was independent from effect on atopic sensitisation. Continual long-term exposure to stables until age 5 years was associated with the lowest frequencies of asthma (0·8% [1/122]), hay fever (0·8% [1]), and atopic sensitisation (8·2% [10]).
Interpretation: Long-term and early-life exposure to stables and farm milk induces a strong protective effect against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitisation.
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| Keyword(s): | allergic disease, asthma, Atopic eczema, atopy, hay fever |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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