Impact of risk factors on growth of children from families with atopy

Abstract

Nutritional and non-nutritional factors might interfere with growth of children with atopy in the first years of life and complicate even further weight gain and development. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the impact of nutrition and several environmental factors on the growth of children from families with atopy in early childhood. During the period 2017–2020, a prospective cohort study, which included 120 children 13–31 months of age (24.0±3.9 months) with family medical history for allergy was conducted in Varna, Bulgaria. The sample was followed for around 2 years. Sociodemographic data, family and personal history for smoking, pet presence, atopy and common acute infections was collected at regular intervals. Anthropometric measurements were taken at birth, 2, 4, 6 month, 1 year and 2 years. The conducted study found that factors from the living environment and nutritional nature are related to the processes of growth and development in children from families with allergy. The presence of diseases such as atopic dermatitis, acute infections of the digestive and excretory system, hospitalizations in connection with urinary infections, smoking have relation to the growth and development of children with a family history of atopy. The data resulting from our study may serve as a basis for further research so the mechanisms of atopy to be investigated better and potential preventive measures during pregnancy and early childhood to be specified. The impact of risk factors on children‘s growth during the first 1000 days could be modified by targeted behavioral interventions of the whole family.