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The combined effects of family size and farm exposure on childhood hay fever and atopy.
- Source :
-
Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology [Pediatr Allergy Immunol] 2013 May; Vol. 24 (3), pp. 293-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Apr 03. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Exposure to farming environments and siblings is associated with reduced risks of childhood hay fever and atopy. We explored the independence and interaction of these protective effects in the GABRIELA study.<br />Methods: Questionnaire surveys on farming, asthma, and allergies were conducted in four central European areas among 79,888 6-12-yr-old children. Aeroallergen-specific serum IgE was measured in a stratified sample of 8,023 children. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare gradients in allergy prevalence by sibship size across three categories of exposure to farming environments.<br />Results: The prevalence of hay fever ranged from 2% (95% confidence interval 1.6%; 2.7%) among farmers' children with more than two siblings to 12% (11.2%; 13.0%) among children with no farm exposure and no siblings. Farming families were larger on average. More siblings and exposure to farming environments independently conferred protection from hay fever and atopy. There was no substantial effect modification between family size and exposure to farming environments. The odds ratios for hay fever per additional sibling were 0.79 among unexposed non-farm children, 0.77 among farm-exposed non-farm children, and 0.72 among children from farming families (2df interaction test: p = 0.41).<br />Conclusion: The inverse association of exposure to farming environments with hay fever is found in all sizes of family, with no substantial tendency to saturation or synergism. This suggests that different biological mechanisms may underlie these two protective factors. Combinations of a large family and exposure to farming environments markedly reduce the prevalence of hay fever and indicate the strength of its environmental determinants.<br /> (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Agricultural Workers' Diseases immunology
Allergens adverse effects
Allergens immunology
Child
Environmental Exposure adverse effects
Europe
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin E blood
Male
Pollen immunology
Prevalence
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal immunology
Risk
Surveys and Questionnaires
Agricultural Workers' Diseases epidemiology
Family Characteristics
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1399-3038
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23551831
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.12053