Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between infections, atopic disease, and nasal symptoms in early childhood. A prospective study was conducted on a cohort of 620 atopy-prone infants from birth to 2 years. Through the first 64 weeks, telephone questionnaires were administered by interview at 4-week intervals, then at 78 weeks and 2 years of age. Information regarding various factors for the 4 weeks prior to administration of the questionnaire was documented. Skin-prick tests for six allergen extracts were performed at 6, 12, and 24 months. The association between nasal symptoms as reported by parents and markers of atopic disease and infections was examined using Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis. Fifty percent of the children did not have any nasal symptoms during the first 5 months of life. Frequency of nasal symptoms started to increase after 6 months of age and peaked around the end of the first year. Total days of fever, antibiotic use, and antiallergic drugs use were the independent predictors of the total days of nasal symptoms (p < 0.001). Neither the use of steroid skin preparations nor the skin-prick test scores were related to nasal symptoms. During the first 2 years of life in an atopy-prone population, markers of infection (but not of atopy) were strongly associated with nasal symptoms.
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