The objective of this study was to examine the association between numerous clinical parameters and the appearance of atopic manifestations such as atopic eczema, wheezing bronchitis, food allergy, and allergic rhino-conjunctivitis in the first four years of life.

A total number of 139 unselected full-term newborns were involved in a prospective follow up from birth to age 4 years. Cord blood absolute eosinophil count (cEo) and cord blood total immunoglobulin E (cIgE), family history of allergy, smoking during pregnancy, method of delivery and duration of exclusive breastfeeding were assessed as predictors for presence of atopic manifestations.

It was found that children with a positive family history of allergy from both mother and father’s side were 19.03 times more likely to develop atopic manifestations. Those children with a positive family history from only mother’s side were 12.55 times more likely to develop atopic manifestation as compared with children having a negative family history. Neonates with cord blood eosinophilia had 5.30 times higher risk for developing atopic manifestations. No significant associations were found between cIgE, mode of delivery, maternal smoking, exclusive and overall breastfeeding duration and the presence of atopic manifestations up to age of 4 years.

The study concluded that a positive medical history, especially of mothers and cEo, appears to be predictive in screening for the onset of allergic ailments.

Source: Crnković HT, Bendelja K, Šimić Klarić A, et al. Family history and cord blood eosinophil count as predictors for atopic manifestations. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2019 Dec; 27(4):267-271. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a5601.