Table 1.

 Numbers of faecal bacteria (log 10 number of bacteria/g faeces) and total serum IgE concentration, and number of children with asthma or atopic dermatitis among seven year old children with a history of normal birth or caesarean section

Parameter (concn of specific microbe or total IgE)	Normally delivered	Caesarean born	p Value
Clostridia	9.29 (9.06–9.51)	8.83 (8.6–9.06)	0.0055
Bifidobacteria	10.32 (10.13–10.5)	10.29 (9.99–10.59)	0.87
Total bacteria	11.56 (11.46–11.7)	11.59 (11.5–11.68)	0.61
Lactobacilli/enterococci	9.07 (8.85–9.3)	9.05 (8.86–9.2)	0.85
Bacteroides	9.95 (9.67–10.24)	9.84 (9.52–10.17)	0.63
Total IgE	79 (16–255)	65 (25–160)	0.85

Values are median (interquartile range).