Abstract
To analyze the determinants involved in the development of allergic diseases early in infancy, we examined the following factors that might affect the induction of the allergic diseases during the infancy by questionnaire: the maternal history both during the pregnancy and during the child-bearing period, childhood history of the diseases, the vaccinations, the nutrition and the environment, and the allergic diseases in their family members. Maternal fever, cough, and pharyngitis during pregnancy were significantly related to the development of asthma plus atopic dermatitis, asthma alone, and atopic dermatitis alone in their infants, respectively. Moreover, the frequency of the maternal infection was associated with a significant increased risk of allergy in their infants. The prevalence of maternal allergy after their delivery was positively associated with the allergic symptoms in their children. The incidence of allergic children was related to the numbers of allergic individuals in their family. The numbers of immunization with the diphteria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine were inversely correlated with the development of allergy, while BCG vaccination significantly inhibited them. These results suggested that pre- and post-natal maternal factors, immunization history of early in life, and the genetic predisposition might modify the development of allergy in infancy.
