Delayed introduction of allergenic foods may not prevent eczema, wheezing

Tromp IIM. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.93.

The introduction of allergenic foods such as cow’s milk and peanuts to children aged younger than 6 months was not linked to eczema or wheezing, according to recent findings.

The aim of the population-based prospective cohort study was to evaluate whether the timing of introduction to cow’s milk, hen’s egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and gluten were linked to eczema and wheezing in 6,905 children aged 4 years or younger.

Wheezing was reported in 31% children at age 2 years and in 14% of 3- and 4-year-olds. Eczema was reported in 38% of 2-year-olds, 20% of 3-year-olds and 18% of children aged 4 years.

The introduction of cow’s milk, hen’s egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and gluten before children were younger than 6 months was not significantly linked to eczema or wheezing at any age, after adjustment for potential confounders (P>.10, for all comparisons).

Stratified analysis accounting for the child’s history of cow’s milk allergy and parental history of atopy yielded similarly nonsignificant results.

Findings were taken from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood core questionnaire. Data on parentally reported physician diagnosis for eczema also were included. The questionnaires were administered when the children were aged 6 and 12 months and assessed the timing of when the foods in question were introduced.

Eligible children were followed from fetal life until young adulthood. The study was conducted from April 2002 to January 2006 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The primary endpoint included outcomes relating to eczema and wheezing.

“This study does not support the recommendation for delayed introduction of allergenic foods after age 6 months for the prevention of eczema and wheezing,” the researchers wrote.

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