Prenatal exposure to aliergens in home and respiratory symptoms in Mexican infants

摘要

Objective:To determine the impactof prenatal exposure to allergens in home on increased respiratory symptoms in children until 18 months of age.Methods: We included 253 infants whose mothers particulated in a randomized clinical trial of supplementation with omega-3 during pregnancy. Information on respiratory symptoms was obtained by questionnaire at 1,3, 6, 9,12 and 18 months of age. During pregnancy we obtained information on sociodemographic characteristics, health and obstetric history, maternal stress and environmental exposure and the presence of allergens in dust samples collected in home during pregnancy(dust mite (Der p 1, Derf 1, Mitegroup2), cat(Fel d1), dog(Can f1), Rat(Rat n1), mouse (Mus m1) and cockroach (Bla g2)) using multiplex kit. We ran negative binomial regression models to assess the impact of prenatal exposure to allergens on the incidence of symptoms.Results: The incidence of respiratory symptoms was higher in children whose mothers received placebo (p =0.083). We observed a negative impactof exposure to allergens in home on the incidence of respiratory symptoms, mainly cough,wheezing, shortness of breath and phlegm in the presence of runny nose and nasal congestion (p＜0.05). Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy reduced the risk of respiratory symptoms.Conclusions: These results strengthen the evidence that prenatal exposure to allergens in the home increases the incidence of respiratory symptoms in childhood.