Researchers in Singapore studied the relationship between eczema and wheezing in babies and food allergies in toddlers. They collected data from 849 children that had completed skin prick testing for inhalant and food allergies, including eggs, peanuts and cow’s milk at 18 months and 36 months of age. The resulting data were compared to information obtained from questionnaires administered to the children’s mothers at several intervals throughout their first three years of life to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases such as eczema and rhinitis, along with wheezing.

The researchers found children that experienced eczema or wheezing within their first 18 months were more likely to have an allergy at 36 months. Occurrences of eczema or wheezing after youngsters were 18 months old appeared to have no notable impact on the later allergy skin test results.

This article appears in the March 2017 issue of Natural Awakenings.