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Krämer, U.* ; Heinrich, J. ; Wjst, M. ; Wichmann, H.-E.

Age of entry to day nursery and allergy in later childhood.

Lancet 353, 450-454 (1999)
PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
BACKGROUND: Infections in early childhood may prevent allergies in later life. If this hypothesis is true, early exposure to childcare outside the home would protect against atopy by promotion of cross infections. We investigated whether children who attend a nursery at a young age have a lower rate of atopy and fewer allergies than children who attend from an older age. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study carried out in 1992-93, we examined 2471 children in three age-groups (5-7, 8-10, and 11-14 years) from the towns of Bitterfeld, Hettstedt, and Zerbst in eastern Germany. The children's parents answered a questionnaire about allergies and symptoms, attendance at day care, and related factors. Sensitisation was assessed by skin-prick tests and measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum. FINDINGS: In 669 children from small families (up to three people), the prevalence of atopy was higher among children who started to attend day nursery at an older age than in those who started to attend at a younger age (p<0.05). Compared with children who first attended at age 6-11 months, the adjusted odds ratios for a positive skin-prick test were 1.99 (95% CI 1.08-3.66) for children who attended at age 12-23 months and 2.72 (1.37-5.40) for those who attended at age 24 months and older. In 1761 children from large families (more than three people), age of entry to day nursery had no effect on atopy. INTERPRETATION: Our findings accord with the hypothesis that early infection may protect against allergies in later life.  
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0140-6736
e-ISSN 0099-5355
Journal Lancet, The
Quellenangaben Volume: 353, Issue: 9151, Pages: 450-454 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)