Infant eczema: Association with ethnicity and feeding practices

PURPOSE: To investigate the development of infant eczema in an ethnically diverse population. Infant feeding practices including age at introduction of solid food and duration of breastfeeding were considered as predictors. METHODS: A cohort of 885 infants, each with an asthmatic sibling, was enrolled in a prospective study within 3 months of birth. Mothers were recontacted when the child was 12 months old and reported the development of eczema, allergy and asthma. Adjusted odds ratios and confidence limits were estimated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Hispanic children were less likely to develop eczema (12%) than either white (27%) or black (27%) children (OR 0.5 95% CI 0.3, 0.9). However, children whose mothers graduated from college were most likely to develop eczema (33%) and children whose mothers did not complete high school (12%) were least likely (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.2, 5.0). The development of eczema was associated with reactions to solid food (OR 2.1 95% CI 1.3, 3.4) and development of allergies that cause “cold-like” symptoms (OR 1.6 95% CI 1.1, 2.5). Breastfeeding (greater-or-equal, slanted6 months), age at which formula was first given, and introduction of solid food before 3 months were not associated with eczema, nor were childʹs gender or maternal or paternal history of allergies or asthma. CONCLUSION: Children of higher socioeconomic status were more likely to develop eczema, but black children had the same risk as whites, while Hispanic children were protected. Breastfeeding did not prevent the development of eczema and introduction of solid food before 3 months was not harmful.