Infant Fevers Lower Later Allergy Risk

A study has found that infants who have fevers before their first birthday are less likely to develop allergies by age six or seven. The findings were published in the February 9, 2004, issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers followed the medical records of 835 children from birth to age one, documenting any fever-related episodes. At age six to seven years, more than half of the children were evaluated for sensitivity to common allergens such as dust mites, ragweed, and cats. Among children who did not have a fever during the first year, 50% showed allergic sensitivity. Of those who had one fever, 46.7% became allergy-prone. Children who suffered two or more fevers in their infancy had only 31.3% showing allergic sensitivity at ages six to seven. In particular, eyes, ears, nose, or throat appeared to be associated with a lower risk of developing allergies.

"It was also interesting that the more fevers an infant had, the less likely it was that he or she would be sensitive to allergies,” said coauthor Christine C. Johnson, Ph.D., senior research epidemiologist of the Henry Ford Health System (Detroit, MI, USA). Dr. Johnson says more research is needed to establish if early fevers have a direct effect on allergic development in children.




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