Children who experience frequent colds and fevers may be at an increased risk of developing eczema, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy, red, dry, and cracked skin that affects approximately one in five children and one in ten adults in the UK. It typically begins in early childhood, though symptoms can improve with age.
Researchers analyzed data from two birth cohorts in Denmark and the United States to investigate potential links between infections and eczema development. In the Danish cohort, 663 children were monitored daily until the age of three for various infections, including colds, ear infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and fever.
The study found a significant association between respiratory infections and a higher risk of eczema. Children who suffered more infections were found to be 60% more likely to develop eczema compared to those with the fewest infections. These findings were further corroborated by a US cohort of 707 children, where the association persisted even after accounting for factors such as antibiotic use and genetic variants like the filaggrin gene, a known risk factor for eczema.
Authors of the study propose that early-stage respiratory infections might impact the developing immune system in ways that elevate the likelihood of eczema. The research highlights a potential long-term relationship between early respiratory infections and eczema, a connection that has been difficult to establish due to inconsistent results in prior studies.
However, the researchers noted that their observational study design limits the ability to definitively conclude that infections directly cause eczema. Many eczema diagnoses occurred concurrently with the recording of infections, making it challenging to determine if the infections preceded the onset of the condition.