TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of the whole original study population (N = 212) and those with follow‐up data (n = 177)
|
Atopic eczema n = 50 |
Wheezing a n = 25 |
Cow's milk allergy b n = 14 |
All children with follow‐up data n = 177 |
Original study cohort N = 212 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | |||||
| Boy, n (%) | 29 (58) | 14 (54) | 10 (71) | 96 (54) | 114 (54) |
| Girl, n (%) | 21 (42) | 12 (46) | 4 (29) | 81 (46) | 98 (46) |
| Mother's education level | |||||
| Comprehensive school, n (%) | 2 (4.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 7 (4) | 14 (7) |
| High school, n (%) | 1 (2.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 14 (8) | 17 (8) |
| Vocational school, n (%) | 15 (30) | 12 (46) | 3 (21) | 57 (32) | 72 (34) |
| University of applied sciences, n (%) | 19 (38) | 8 (31) | 7 (50) | 53 (30) | 60 (28) |
| University, n (%) | 13 (26) | 6 (23) | 4 (29) | 45 (26) | 48 (23) |
| Mode of delivery | |||||
| Vaginal, n (%) | 37 (74) | 17 (65) | 11 (79) | 140 (79) | 172 (81) |
| Caesarean section, n (%) | 13 (26) | 9 (35) | 3 (21) | 37 (21) | 40 (19) |
| Gestational age in weeks (range) | 39.4 (36.6–42.3) | 39.2 (37.1–42) | 39.7 (36.6–42.3) | 39.7 (36.6–42.4) | 39.6 (35.4–42.4) |
| Number of siblings at birth | |||||
| None, n (%) | 19 (39) | 9 (36) | 8 (57) | 64 (37) | 72 (34) |
| One, n (%) | 13 (26) | 6 (24) | 3 (21.5) | 52 (30) | 67 (32) |
| Two or more, n (%) | 17 (34) | 10 (40) | 3 (21.5) | 59 (34) | 70 (33) |
| Mean birth weight in grams (SD) | 3525 (538) | 3369 (596) | 3443 (597) | 3561 (517) | 3553 (494) |
| Maternal antibiotics during pregnancy, n (%) | 11 (22) | 7 (27) | 3 (21) | 36 (20) | 37 (18) |
| Antibiotics during delivery, n (%) c | 17 (34) | 8 (31) | 5 (36) | 51 (29) | 61 (29) |
| Child's antimicrobials in neonatal ward, n (%) d | 0 (0) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 4 (2.3) | 4d (1.9) |
| Mother's atopic eczema e , n (%) | 16 (37) | 6 (23) | 4 (29) | 26 (20) | NA g |
| Father's atopic eczema e , n (%) | 9 (21) | 7 (27) | 1 (7.1) | 25 (19) | NA |
| Mother's asthma e , n (%) | 4 (9.3) | 3 (12) | 3 (21) | 10 (7.5) | NA |
| Father's asthma e , n (%) | 5 (12) | 2 (7.7) | 3 (21) | 10 (7.5) | NA |
| Maternal smoking during pregnancy e , n (%) | 3 (7.0) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 5 (3.7) | NA |
| Parental current smoking e , n (%) | 7 (17) | 6 (23) | 2 (15) | 26 (20) | NA |
| Mean duration of breastfeeding f in months (SD) | 10.5 (3.3) | 10.6 (2.9) | 11.2 (1.2) | 9.2 (3.7) | NA |
| Mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding f in months (SD) | 4.6 (2.4) | 4.8 (1.9) | 5.3 (0.87) | 3.8 (2.2) | NA |
Information about wheezing was obtained for only 134 children, whose families completed the online survey. The information about atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy was obtained from all of the 177 children.
Of the 14 children with cow's milk allergy, four had gastrointestinal symptoms, two had dermatological symptoms and eight had both gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms. Cow's milk allergy was diagnosed by a physician.
For 61 neonates exposed to antibiotics during delivery: Cefuroxime (n = 31), Benzylpenicillin (n = 28), Piperacillin/Tazobactam (n = 2).
Benzylpenicillin and tobramycin.
Information about a parent's atopic eczema, asthma and smoking was obtained for only 134 children, whose families completed the online survey.
Information about breastfeeding was collected via clinical survey when the children were 1 year of age and was available for 140 of the families who had also completed the survey at 4 years of age. Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as the situation in which the child was fed neither solid foods nor formula.
NA, Not available.