Month of birth, atopic disease, and atopic sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Japanese cedar (Cryptmeria japonica; CJ) pollen and house dust mites are the two important aeroallergens in Japan. However, no epidemiological survey has been performed in Japan to investigate the relationship between month of birth and manifestations of allergic disease and sensitization.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the correlation between month of birth and sensitization to aeroallergens or the occurrence of allergic disease on 755 Japanese school children aged 12-13 years.

METHODS: The personal history of atopic disease (bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and allergic conjunctivitis) as recorded by questionnaires was investigated in relation to total serum IgE and specific IgE toward house dust mites and CJ pollen.

RESULTS: Positive specific IgE toward house dust mites was significantly less prevalent in the children born between January and March than those born during the rest of the year (p < 0.01). Positive specific IgE toward CJ pollen was significantly more prevalent in the children born between December and January than those born during the rest of the year (p < 0.05). High total IgE was less prevalent in the children born between February and April than in children born during the rest of the year (p = 0.05). The prevalence of bronchial asthma was 26.2% among children born between November and December, compared with a ratio of 17.3% among children born during the rest of the year (p < 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of the children with allergic rhinitis was born between August and October than during the rest of the year (p < 0.05). The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis was 15.8% among the children who were born between December and January, compared with 9.1% among children born during the rest of the year (p < 0.01). No relationship between prevalence of eczema and season of birth was found.

CONCLUSION: Month of birth appears to influence the risk in the development of allergic sensitization and atopic diseases. The findings concerning higher CJ pollen sensitization in children born in the months that proceed the CJ pollen seasons are as evident as the house-dust-mite-related findings.