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Season of birth and childhood food allergy in Australia
Author(s) -
Mullins Raymond James,
Clark Sunday,
Katelaris Constance,
Smith Victoria,
Solley Graham,
Camargo Jr Carlos A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01151.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypoallergenic , food allergy , allergy , population , pediatrics , peanut allergy , demography , allergen , environmental health , immunology , sociology
To cite this article: Mullins RJ, Clark S, Katelaris C, Smith V, Solley G, Camargo CA, Jr. Season of birth and childhood food allergy in Australia. Pediatric Allergy Immunology 2011; 22 : 583–589. Abstract Background: Recent studies suggest a possible role for low ultraviolet radiation exposure and low vitamin D status as a risk factor for food allergy. We hypothesized that children born in autumn/winter months (less sun exposure) might have higher food allergy rates than those born in spring/summer. Methods: We compared IgE‐mediated food allergy rates by season of birth in 835 children aged 0–4 yr assessed 1995–2009 in a specialist referral clinic, using population births as controls. To address potential concerns about generalizability, we also examined national prescriptions for adrenaline autoinjectors (2007) and infant hypoallergenic formula (2006–2007). Results: Although live births in the general ACT population showed no seasonal pattern (50% autumn/winter vs. 50% spring/summer), autumn/winter births were more common than spring/summer births among food allergy patients (57% vs. 43%; p < 0.001). The same seasonal pattern was observed with peanut (60% vs. 40%; p < 0.001) and egg (58% vs. 42%; p = 0.003). Regional UVR intensity was correlated with relative rate of overall food allergy (β, −1.83; p = 0.05) and peanut allergy (β, −3.27; p = 0.01). National data showed that autumn/winter births also were more common among children prescribed EpiPens (54% vs. 46%; p < 0.001) and infant hypoallergenic formula (54% vs. 46%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The significantly higher rates of food allergy in children born autumn/winter (compared to spring/summer), the relationship between relative food allergy rates and monthly UVR, combined with national adrenaline autoinjector and infant hypoallergenic formula prescription data, suggest that ultraviolet light exposure/vitamin D status may be one of many potential factors contributing to childhood food allergy pathogenesis.