235 PREVALENCE OF ALLERGY IN RELATION TO NUTRITIONAL ALLERGEN CHALLENGE, GASTROINTESTINAL AND RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (RTI) IN AT RISK INFANT

摘要

Aim: Development of allergy was studied in relation to nutritional allergen challenge and infectious diseases during the first 16 months of life.Methods: 240 infants were allocated either to breast-milk feeding during first 5 months, followed by a hypoallergenic diet (BM), or hypoallergenic whey formula feeding (Nidina HA, Nestlé: HA).Results: In a high risk group ol infants (positive family history and cord blood IgE > 0.5 kU/L) prevalence of atopic disease was similarly frequent in both nutritional groups (BM 12 %, HA 11 % at age 4 months; 32 %, 39 % at age 16 months resp.). While upper RTI equally frequent occurred in both nutritional groups, the HA group showed a significantly higher prevalence of lower RTI (BM 12 %; HA 36 %; p < 0.05), associated with a more frequent development of respiratory allergy (29 % with lower RTI: 2 % without lower RTI; p < 0.005) Other atopic diseases (skin and gastrointestinal symptoms) occurred in 19 % of infants with lower RTI and 22 % without lower RTI (n.s.). Prevalence of atopic disease was also signilicantly different in relation to gastrointestinal infections (41 % with vs. 25 % without), although gastrointestinal intolerance was similar in both groups (38 % vs. 40 %).Conclusion: While there was a similar allergy prevalence in Nidina HA fed and breast-milk fed infants at risk, a particular group of infants exposed to gastrointestinal or lower RT infections showed a higher allergy prevalence in association with Nidina HA feeding and should therefore favorably be nourished by breast-milk.