Cesarean Section Linked To Allergy In Children

Among children who have a parent with allergies or asthma, delivery cesarean section appears to increase the odds that they will develop allergic rhinitis and atopy — but not asthma — US researchers report.

The investigators note that to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to look at the “relationship between birth by cesarean section and atopy and allergic diseases at school age among children at high risk for atopy,” Dr. Juan C. Celedon, from Harvard Medical School in Boston.

The study involved 432 children who were followed from birth to 9 years of age. One or both parents had a history of allergies or asthma.

Physician-diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis in the children was assessed using caregiver interviews conducted at least twice a year. Allergy skin testing was performed in 271 children at an average age of 7.4 years.

Children born by cesarean section were 2.1-times more likely to develop atopy than their peers born by vaginal delivery, the report indicates.

Similarly, the authors found that cesarean section increased the risk of allergic rhinitis 1.8-fold. As noted, however, cesarean section did not increase the risk of asthma or wheeze.

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