Associations between duration of breast-feeding, sensitization to hens' eggs and eczema infantum in one and two year old children at high risk of atopy

Through a cohort study, factors for the development of atopic disorders amo ng children at highrisk of atopy were investigated by means of anamnesis, l ifestyle factors and laboratory parameters. 475 high-risk children were selected out of the whole population of infants born within one year in the City and District of Leipzig. These 475 had an increased cord blood IgE (>0.9 kU71), double positive atopic family histor y (parents/siblings) or low birthweight (1500-2500 g). Questionnaires are a nswered regularly by the parents and the children are clinically examined a nnually. Results. In the first and second year of life there has been a statisticall y significant correlation (p < 0.0001) between increased cord blood IgE and increased total IgE. At the age of one year we found eczema infantum in 51 out of 323 high-risk children. There was a significant association (p = 0.0001) between sensitization agai nst hens' eggs and eczema. Infants who had been exclusively breast-fed greater than or equal to 5 mont hs were more frequently sensitized to hens' egg and an eczema infantum was to diagnose more frequently. Significant differences in this respect were found within the risk groups, depending on family history of atopy and cord blood IgE. The duration of breast-feeding showed no correlation with sensitization to hens' eggs or atopy in two-year-olds.