No statistically significant subgroup differences were found according to infant risk of allergy or type of infant feed .
There is some evidence that a prebiotic supplement added to infant feeds may prevent eczema .
It is unclear whether the use of prebiotic should be restricted to infants at high risk of allergy or may have an effect in low risk population s ; or whether it may have an effect on other allergic diseases including asthma
BACKGROUND Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotic given to infants for the prevention of allergy .
Early life risk factors for current wheeze, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness at 10 years of age.
STUDY OBJECTIVES We sought to identify early life factors ( ie , first 4 years ) associated with  wheeze , asthma , and bronchial hyperresponsiveness ( BHR ) at age 10 years , comparing their relative influence for these conditions . METHODS Children were seen at birth , and at 1 , 2 , 4 , and 10 years of age in a whole- population birth cohort study ( 1,456 subjects ) . Information was collected prospect ively on genetic and environmental risk factors .  Skin-prick testing  was performed at 4 years of age . Current wheeze ( in the last 12 months ) and currently diagnosed asthma ( CDA ) [ ie , current wheeze and ever-diagnosed asthmatic subject ] were recorded at 10 years of age when BHR was measured at bronchial challenge . Independent significant risk factors for these outcomes were identified by logistic regression . RESULTS Independent significance for current wheeze occurred with maternal asthma ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 2.08 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.27 to 3.41 ) and paternal asthma ( OR , 2.12 ; 95 % CI 1.29 to 3.51 ) , recurrent chest infections at 2 years ( OR , 3.98 ; 95 % CI , 2.36 to 6.70 ) , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 3.69 ; 95 % CI , 2.36 to 5.76 ) , eczema at 4 years of age ( OR , 2.15 ; 95 % CI , 1.24 to 3.73 ) , and parental smoking at 4 years of age ( OR , 2.18 ; 95 % CI , 1.25 to 3.81 ) . For CDA , significant factors were maternal asthma ( OR , 2.26 ; 95 % CI , 1.24 to 3.73 ) , paternal asthma ( OR , 2.30 ; 95 % CI , 1.17 to 4.52 ) , and sibling asthma ( OR , 2.00 ; 95 % CI , 1.16 to 3.43 ) , recurrent chest infections at 1 year of age ( OR , 2.67 ; 95 % CI , 1.12 to 6.40 ) and 2 years of age ( OR , 4.11 ; 95 % CI , 2.06 to 8.18 ) , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 7.22 ; 95 % CI , 4.13 to 12.62 ) , parental smoking at 1 year of age ( OR , 1.99 ; 95 % CI , 1.15 to 3.45 ) , and male gender ( OR , 1.72 ; 95 % CI , 1.01 to 2.95 ) . For BHR , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 5.38 ; 95 % CI , 3.06 to 9.47 ) and high social class at birth ( OR , 2.03 ; 95 % CI , 1.16 to 3.53 ) proved to be significant . CONCLUSIONS Asthmatic heredity , predisposition to early life atopy , plus early passive smoke exposure and recurrent chest infections are important influences for the occurrence of wheeze and asthma at 10 years of age . BHR at 10 years of age has a narrower risk profile , suggesting that factors influencing wheezing symptom expression may differ from those predisposing the patient to BHR
No statistically significant subgroup differences were found according to infant risk of allergy or type of infant feed .
There is some evidence that a prebiotic supplement added to infant feeds may prevent eczema .
It is unclear whether the use of prebiotic should be restricted to infants at high risk of allergy or may have an effect in low risk population s ; or whether it may have an effect on other allergic diseases including asthma
BACKGROUND Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotic given to infants for the prevention of allergy .