RT Journal
A1 Dunder T, Tapiainen T, Pokka T, Uhari M
T1 Infections in child day care centers and later development of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis: Prospective follow-up survey 12 years after controlled randomized hygiene intervention
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2007
FD October 1
VO 161
IS 10
SP 972
OP 977
DO 10.1001/archpedi.161.10.972
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.161.10.972
AB Objective 
    To evaluate the effect of successful prevention of common infections in child day care centers on the later development of allergic diseases.Design 
    Prospective follow-up survey with a questionnaire administered 12 years after a controlled randomized hygiene intervention.Setting 
    Twenty municipal child day care centers in Oulu, Finland.Participants 
    A questionnaire was sent to 1354 prior participants (98%) in the intervention trial. The response rate was 68% (928 of 1354 participants).Main Intervention 
    Hygiene intervention from March 1, 1991, to May 31, 1992.Main Outcome Measures 
    The number of respondents who had a diagnosis of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and/or atopic dermatitis made by a physician, and the number of those who reported symptoms of atopic diseases.Results 
    Asthma was diagnosed by a physician in 48 of the 481 respondents (10%) from the intervention child day care centers, with markedly fewer infections, and in 46 of the 447 controls (10%) (relative risk, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.4). Similarly, no differences were found in the numbers of children who had a diagnosis of other atopic diseases or who had reported such symptoms.Conclusion 
    The prevention of common respiratory tract and enteric infections during early childhood does not change later allergic morbidity.