Diet and Respiratory Health in Children from 11 Latin American Countries: Evidence from ISAAC Phase III.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The burden of childhood asthma and its risk factors is an important but neglected public health challenge in Latin America. We investigated the association between allergic symptoms and dietary intake in children from this region. METHODS: As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase III, questionnaire collected dietary intake was investigated in relation to risk of parental/child reported current wheeze (primary outcome) and rhino-conjunctivitis and eczema. Per-country adjusted logistic regressions were performed, and combined effect sizes were calculated with meta-analyses. RESULTS: 143,967 children from 11 countries had complete data. In children aged 6-7 years, current wheeze was negatively associated with higher fruit intake (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.65; 95% CI 0.74, 0.97). Current rhino-conjunctivitis and eczema were statistically negatively associated with fruit intake (aOR 0.72; 95% CI 0.64, 0.82; and OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.56, 0.74, respectively). Vegetable intake was negatively associated with risk of symptoms in younger children, but these associations were attenuated in the 13-14 years old group. Fastfood/burger intake was positively associated with all three outcomes in the older children. CONCLUSION: A higher intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower prevalence of allergic symptoms in Latin American children. Conversely, intake of fastfood was positively associated with a higher prevalence of wheeze in adolescents. Improved dietary habits in children might help reduce the epidemic of allergic symptoms in Latin America. Food interventions in asthmatic children are needed to evaluate the possible public health impact of a better diet on respiratory health.

A Traditional Diet Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Eczema and Wheeze in Colombian Children.

BACKGROUND: Diet might influence the risk of allergic diseases. Evidence from developing countries with high prevalence of childhood asthma is scant. METHODS: Information on wheeze, rhinitis, and eczema was collected from 3209 children aged 6-7 years in 2005, who were taking part in the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) in Colombia. Intake frequency of twelve food groups was assessed. Associations between each food group and current wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema were investigated with multiple logistic regressions, adjusting for potential confounders. Simes' procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: 14.9% of children reported wheeze in the last 12 months, 16% rhino-conjunctivitis, and 22% eczema. Eczema was negatively associated with consumption of fresh fruits and pulses three or more times per week (adjusted Odds ratio (aOR): 0.64; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49 to 0.83; p value = 0.004; and aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.80; p value < 0.001, respectively). Current wheeze was negatively associated with intake of potatoes (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.62, p value = 0.005), whilst this outcome was positively associated with consumption of fast food (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.35, p value = 0.001). These associations remained statistically significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: A traditional diet might have a protective effect against eczema and wheeze in Colombian children, whilst intake of fast foods increases this risk.

Desensibilizacion de pacientes alergicos por via sublingual-oral. Primera parte / Desensitization of allergic patients by sublingual-oral. I part

Se trataron 30 pacientes con diferentes tipos de enfermedades alérgicas empleando la inmunoterapia por vía sublingual-oral. Los resultados obtenidos permiten observar una respuesta de remisión temprana de signos y síntomas de la enfermedad tratada, en un período máximo de 6 meses de tratamiento. En ningún caso se produjo una reacción de tipo anafiláctico o un efecto colateral que pusiera en peligro la vida del paciente o que obligara a suspender el tratamiento. Todos los pacientes que siguieron la desensibilización, según lo indicado, mejoraron. En un período de observación después de terminado el tratamiento un paciente presentó recaída leve de su enfermedad (asma bronquial), para esto, fue necesario hacer un refuerzo de la inmunoterapia por un mes adicional con antígeno puro, lográndose los resultados deseados. Se considera que los resultados obtenidos son ventajosos con relación a la inmunoterapia parenteral en lo que respecta a tiempo empleado, prontitud en la respuesta de tolerancia, ausencia de respuestas anafilácticas, facilidad de administración por el mismo paciente, atraumático y muy económico, con base en los cual los investigadores recomiendan esta terapia como muy efectiva y segura para el paciente