Abstract

AIM:

Increasing evidence suggests that overweight children are at increased risk of asthma. The association between weight gain and allergy is more complex. The aim was to evaluate the association between overweight or obesity and asthma, allergy, bronchial reactivity or atopic sensitization at school age in children with bronchiolitis in infancy.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

Eighty-one children hospitalized for bronchiolitis at <24 months of age attended control visits at 7.2 and 12.3 years of ages. The visits consisted of medical examinations, weight and height measurements, body mass index (BMI) calculations, skin prick tests and exercise challenge tests. BMI >1.3 SD from age- and gender-specific references meant overweight and BMI >2.0 SD obesity.

RESULTS:

Current or previous overweight or obesity did not increase the risk of asthma, allergy, bronchial reactivity or atopic sensitization at 7.2 or 12.3 years of age. Previous and current obesity decreased the risk of atopic dermatitis, and current overweight and obesity decreased the risk of sensitization to outdoor allergens at 12.3 years of age.

CONCLUSION:

Previous or current overweight does not increase asthma or allergy risk but current obesity may decrease allergy risk at school age after bronchiolitis in infancy.

© 2011 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2011 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.