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- Hesselmar, Bill, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Pet-keeping in early life reduces the risk of allergy in a dose-dependent fashion.
- 2018
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several studies have indicated that early pet keeping could protect the infant from later allergy development. Here, we investigate if there is a dose-dependent association between cat- and dog-keeping during the first year of life and subsequent allergy development.Two cohorts were investigated: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 7- to 8-year-old children (N = 1029) from Mölndal and Kiruna, and a birth-cohort of children from the Västra Götaland county clinically evaluated for asthma and allergy by paediatricians up to the age of 8-9 years (N = 249). The cross-sectional study asked validated questions on asthma and allergy that had been used in two previous studies of children from the same areas. In the birth-cohort study, a diagnosis of asthma and allergy was based on predefined clinical criteria, and laboratory evaluation included blood eosinophils, skin-prick tests and specific immunoglobulin E analyses. Information on pets during first year of life was collected retrospectively in the Cross-Sectional Cohort and prospectively in the Birth Cohort.A dose-response association was seen, with less allergic manifestations (any of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, or eczema) with increasing number of household cats and dogs during the first year of life. In the Cross-Sectional Cohort, allergy ever decreased from 49% in those with no pets to zero in those with five or more pets (P-value for trend 0.038), and from 32% to zero for allergy last year (P-value for trend 0.006). The same pattern was seen in Birth Cohort. Sensitization to animals, as well as pollens, also decreased with increasing number of animals in the household.The prevalence of allergic disease in children aged 7-9 years is reduced in a dose-dependent fashion with the number of household pets living with the child during their first year of life, suggesting a "mini-farm" effect, whereby cats and dogs protect against allergy development.
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| 2. |
- Hesselmar, Bill, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Allergy in children in hand versus machine dishwashing.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Pediatrics. - : American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). - 1098-4275 .- 0031-4005. ; 135:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The hygiene hypothesis stipulates that microbial exposure during early life induces immunologic tolerance via immune stimulation, and hence reduces the risk of allergy development. Several common lifestyle factors and household practices, such as dishwashing methods, may increase microbial exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate if such lifestyle factors are associated with allergy prevalence.
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| 4. |
- Hicke-Roberts, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis continued to increase in Swedish children up to 2007, but asthma and eczema levelled off from 1991.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). - : Wiley. - 1651-2227 .- 0803-5253. ; 106:1, s. 75-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated whether allergies among schoolchildren increased in Sweden between 1979 and 2007 and whether the geographical differences observed in previous studies remained.We collected questionnaire data on asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) and eczema in children aged seven to eight years from Mölndal, Gothenburg, in south-western Sweden and Kiruna in northern Sweden in 1979 (n = 4682), 1991 (n = 2481) and 2007 (n = 1029). The same regions and questions were used in all three studies, and extra questions on food allergy or intolerance were added in 2007.In 1979, 1991 and 2007, the total prevalence of asthma was 2.5%, 5.7% and 7.1%, ARC was 5.5%, 8.1% and 11.1% and eczema was 7.1%, 18.3% and 19.7%, respectively. Asthma prevalence remained higher in Kiruna, but no significant regional differences were seen for ARC and eczema. Almost 20% reported a history of food allergy or intolerance, with a higher prevalence in Kiruna. The allergy risk was reduced if both parents were born outside Sweden.The prevalence of ARC continued to increase between 1991 and 2007, but increases in asthma and eczema started to level off in 1991. Some geographical differences remained, but total allergy rates were similar in Kiruna and Mölndal in 2007.
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| 5. |
- Hicke-Roberts, Anna
(författare)
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Changes in prevalence of asthma and allergy in Swedish school children over almost three decades and factors reducing risk of allergy
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- ABSTRACT Background: Asthma and allergy are one of the most common chronic diseases among children. The prevalence of allergic diseases increased dramatically during the last decades of the twentieth century. The reason behind this increase is still not fully understood. Aim: The aim of the thesis was to investigate changes over time in the prevalence of asthma and allergy in two Swedish towns, and to identify protective and risk factors for allergy development. Methods: Data were obtained from two studies: a population-based cross-sectional study that was used in all four papers, and in paper III results from a birth cohort study was added. The cross-sectional study (N=1029) was performed in 2007 and prevalence data were compared with two previous cross-sectional studies conducted in 1979 and 1991. All three studies were based on questionnaires with the same set of questions on asthma and allergy, and the children were of the same age and from the same two Swedish towns: Mölndal/Gothenburg and Kiruna. Questions on dietary habits and food allergy were added in 2007 study. The birth cohort study (N=249), used in paper III, recruited children from Västra Götaland county. The children were recruited at birth, between 1998 and 2005, and they were clinically assessed at the age of 8-9 years. Results: Paper I: The prevalence of asthma were 2.5% (1979), 5.7% (1991) and 7.1% (2007), allergic rhino-conjunctivitis: 5.5% (1979), 8.1% (1991) and 11.1% (2007), eczema 7.1% (1979), 18.3% (1991) and 19.7% (2007) respectively. Allergic rhino-conjunctivitis continued to increase from 1979 to 2007, while asthma and eczema levelled off between 1991 and 2007. Having both parents born abroad was a protective factor for developing allergy. Paper II: Hand-dishwashing decreased the risk of allergy (odds ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.37-0.85). The risk was reduced in a dose-response pattern if the child was also served fermented food, and if the family bought food directly from a farm. Paper III: Keeping cats and dogs during the first year of life was associated with a decreased risk of allergy in a dose-dependent manner. Sensitisation to animals and pollen also decreased with an increasing number of cats and/or dogs kept indoors. Paper IV: The total cumulative incidence of self-reported food allergy was 19.6%, and it was significantly higher in Kiruna (28.5%) than in Mölndal (15.7%). Introducing complementary food from 7 months of age or later, and a mother’s history of allergy, were both independent risk factors for developing food allergy. Complementary food was introduced at a later age in Kiruna. Conclusion and implications: In the latter years of the previous century, the rising trend of allergic diseases in children seemed to level off, with the exception of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. Our results does not give any specific explanation for this break in the trend line for asthma and eczema, but one may speculate that climate change with longer pollen periods may have prevented a similar course for rhino-conjunctivitis. However, some important protective factors were found, such as lifestyle factors that were associated with a reduced risk of allergy development. Both dishwashing by hand, eating fermented food and buying food directly from farms were protective factors, as was the keeping of indoor pets during the first year of life. With pets, the risk of allergy was reduced in a dose-dependent pattern. Of the identified risk factors, introducing complementary food late to an infant’s diet increased the risk of food allergy, as did a maternal history of allergy. Time trends describing changes in the prevalence of a disease is always important, not only for the organisation of the health care system, but also for our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Of similar importance is the finding of factors that can protect children from allergy development, especially if they could be adopted to daily life and lifestyle habits. One such factor is when to introduce complementary food to a child’s diet, and our results indicate that it should not be delayed. Pet keeping and dishwashing by hand may also be possible to implement by some families, but the main importance of their protective effects are mainly of mechanistic significance, with results supporting the hygiene hypothesis.
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| 7. |
- Hicke-Roberts, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Late introduction of solids into infants’ diets may increase the risk of food allergy development
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Pediatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2431. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background This study investigated risk factors associated with food allergy or food intolerance among school children in two Swedish towns. Methods Questionnaires were used to collect data on self-reported food allergy or intolerance (SRFA) in children aged 7–8years from Mölndal in southwestern Sweden and Kiruna in northern Sweden. It included questions about specific food allergy or intolerance to cows’ milk, hens’ eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, and cereals and also age of onset, type of symptoms and age of cessation. Information was also gathered on family allergy history, dietary habits, and certain lifestyle aspects. Results Of 1838 questionnaires distributed, 1029 were returned: 717/1354 (53%) from Mölndal and 312/484 (64%) from Kiruna. The cumulative incidence of SRFA was 19.6% with a significantly higher cumulative incidence in Kiruna (28.5%) than in Mölndal (15.7%), P <.001. Solids were introduced at a later age in Kiruna. Introduction of solids into a child’s diet from the age of 7 months or later, and maternal history of allergic disease, were both risk factors associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance. Conclusion Late introduction of solids into an infant’s diet may be one risk factor for developing food allergy or intolerance. Later introduction of solids in Kiruna may be one explanation for the higher cumulative incidence of SRFA in that region.
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