When eczema begins, how long it lasts and how severe it is may influence a child’s ability to outgrow food allergies, according to research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, FL.
For the study, researchers examined surveys from caregivers of 855 children aged 0 to 12 with a history of outgrown immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies. Parents reported on the presence and timing of eczema, when it resolved, and how severe it had been. Severity was measured using how much skin was affected and the types of treatments needed to control symptoms, scored on a 0–6 scale.
Children with longer-lasting and more severe eczema were less likely to outgrow food allergies. Specifically:
- Children whose eczema began between four and six months of age had significantly lower odds of outgrowing food allergies compared to those whose eczema started earlier (0–3 months).
- Greater eczema severity was strongly linked to reduced chances of developing tolerance.
- The relationship between eczema duration and food allergy resolution was non-linear. The likelihood of outgrowing a food allergy dipped with shorter eczema durations, rose modestly at eight–10 years, and then declined again.
“An earlier onset of eczema between four to six months, along with greater severity and longer duration, was linked to a reduced likelihood of outgrowing food allergies,” the study authors conclude. “These findings suggest that managing eczema effectively may play a role in promoting the development of food allergy tolerance in children.”
