Journal article

Do boys do the atopic march while girls dawdle?

Adrian J Lowe, John B Carlin, Catherine M Bennett, Clifford S Hosking, Michael J Abramson, David J Hill, Shyamali C Dharmage

JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY | MOSBY-ELSEVIER | Published : 2008

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The atopic march hypothesis suggests that infants with eczema are at increased risk of asthma. Others argue that eczema is not a risk factor for asthma unless there is also sensitization or early wheezing. OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of infantile eczema as a predictor of risk of childhood asthma, while allowing for the effects of early wheeze, sensitization, and sex, both as independent effects and possible effect modifiers. METHODS: A total of 620 infants with a family history of allergic disease was recruited. Eczema and wheeze was prospectively documented to 2 years of age. Sensitization was determined by skin prick tests at 6, 12, and 24 months to 6 common food and inhalan..

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