Hospital admission with neonatal sepsis and development of atopic disease: Is there a link?

Risk Factors of Onset Time and Persistence of Atopic Dermatitis in Children Under Age 5 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is high among children, with development of AD occurring during early childhood in most affected children and some having a chronic disease course. Risk factors for AD in this group remain undefined. Objectives: We analyzed the medical records of children with AD under 5 years of age. We summarized characteristics of the natural course of AD in these children and explored relevant risk factors of AD in infancy and early childhood. Methods: Using a self-developed questionnaire, we investigated 716 children under 5 years of age who were treated for AD at the Dermatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China. We conducted the study from October 2021 to September 2022 using telephone and on-site interviews with the children's parents. In parental interviews, data were gathered on neonatal diseases, comorbidities, parental allergy history, maternal history of tobacco and alcohol use, and basic infant information at birth. Some children were tested for serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) before this study. Results: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), neonatal infection, and infection during childhood had a significant impact on persistent symptoms and the onset of first symptoms in children with AD (P < 0.05). Allergic diseases as common comorbidities with AD, which had earlier onset of AD related to more obvious disease activity (P < 0.05). Parental history of allergy was also significant in AD (P < 0.05). Serum total iIgE levels in children with AD showed an impact on the clinical course of AD; neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and NRDS may affect IgE levels (P < 0.05). Persistent AD had a significant effect on the physical growth of children with height/length for age Z score ≤3 and weight for height/length Z score ≤3 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Early adverse events in infants, infection before onset, and susceptibility to infection may affect the onset and clinical course of childhood AD. Serum total IgE levels affect the progression of AD. Persistent AD in childhood may have a slight impact on children's physical growth.

Pregnancy complications, treatment characteristics and birth outcomes in women with atopic dermatitis in Denmark

BACKGROUND

The risk of prenatal, obstetric and birth complications in mothers with atopic dermatitis (AD), along with treatment use during pregnancy, is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations between prenatal, obstetric and birth complications in mothers with AD and describe the dermatologic care received during pregnancy.

METHODS

Mother-child pairs, in which the mother had a history of AD, were identified through the Danish Medical Birth Registry and matched 1 : 10 with non-AD pairs. Data on dermatologic treatment and prenatal, obstetric and birth complications were obtained through linkage via nationwide registers. Multiple logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

We identified 10 668 births from 1997 through 2014 to women with AD. Women with a hospital/ambulatory contact for AD during pregnancy had increased topical corticosteroid and ultraviolet therapy use during pregnancy compared to prior. However, overall, women with AD received decreased dermatologic therapy during pregnancy compared to prior. In adjusted analysis, maternal AD was inversely associated with gestational diabetes [OR 0.79, 95% CI (0.68-0.92)], but positively associated with premature rupture of membranes [1.15 (1.05-1.27)] and staphylococcal neonatal septicemia [2.45 (1.33-4.49)]-albeit the latter was rare. These associations did not meet statistical significance in sub-analysis where body mass index data were available. No associations were found with preeclampsia, prematurity or non-staphylococcal neonatal septicaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with AD during pregnancy mainly used topical corticosteroids and ultraviolet therapy to control their disease. While premature rupture of membranes and staphylococcal neonatal septicaemia were over-represented in maternal AD, no associations were found with any other significant prenatal, obstetric or birth outcome.

Meta-analysis shows that infants who have suffered neonatal sepsis face an increased risk of mortality and severe complications

Infants suffering from neonatal sepsis face an increased risk of early death and long-term neurodevelopmental delay. This paper analyses and summarises the existing data on short-term and long-term outcomes of neonatal sepsis, based on 12 studies published between January 2000 and 1 April 2012 and covering 3669 neonates with sepsis.

CONCLUSION

Infants who have suffered neonatal sepsis face an increased risk of mortality and severe complications such as brain damage and, or, neurodevelopmental delay.

Neonatal sepsis, antibiotic therapy and later risk of asthma and allergy

Neonatal sepsis and early antibiotic therapy affect bacterial colonisation and immune activation after birth. This could have implications for later risk of allergy and asthma. Using a validated questionnaire (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children, ISAAC), we screened for asthma and allergy in three cohorts (total n = 834; median age 12, range 7-23 years) with different perinatal exposures as regards infection and antibiotics. Asthma, but not hay fever, was more prevalent after neonatal sepsis with adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.63 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 2.56] and early antibiotic therapy (OR 1.48 [0.93, 2.35]) as compared with a control group. There was a trend towards increased atopic eczema after neonatal sepsis (OR = 1.39 [CI = 0.98, 1.98]). We conclude that neonatal sepsis is associated with an increased risk for later development of asthma. Early antibiotic exposure may contribute to this association.

Neonatal sepsis and later development of atopy

BACKGROUND

The role of infections on the development of atopy is still widely debated. We aimed to evaluate the effects of neonatal severe sepsis and consequent antibiotic treatment on the development of atopy and allergic diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective enrollment at school age of children with a clear history of neonatal sepsis (NS) was performed from registers of neonatal intensive care units. A normal control was assigned to each patient with sepsis. Thirty six cases with sepsis (18 males, 18 females) and 36 controls (21 males, 15 females) were selected (8.5+/-3.6 yrs). Physical examination and lung function evaluation were performed. Atopic status was verified by blood eosinophil count, total IgE serum level and skin prick tests (SPT).

RESULTS

SPT positivity for at least one allergen was present in 30% of subjects in both groups. No difference for all investigated parameters between groups and no influence by other factors such as familiarity or gender was observed. No correlation was associated to NS history.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal sepsis, even if clinically severe and dramatic, could represent an event too limited and really precocious in life to influence the development of immune response. Furthermore, other factors, besides infections, may influence the atopic future of newborns.