| Childhood eczema, an allergic skin condition, increases | | | | The researchers suggest that the link between |
| the likelihood of childhood asthma as well as the | | | | eczema and asthma may be due to genetic and |
| persistence of asthma in later life, reports a 37-year | | | | environmental factors. Eczema could also be |
| long study published in the August issue of the | | | | contributing to asthma directly. One possible way |
| Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. | | | | could be the migration of certain immune system cells |
| The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) is | | | | from the skin of the eczema patient to tissues in the |
| an ongoing study that began in 1968. 8583 | | | | patient's airways. These cells are primed for an |
| seven-year-old school children were enrolled for this | | | | allergic response and could increase the likelihood of |
| study. They were surveyed again in 1974, 1979-81, | | | | inflammation in the airway in response to an inhaled |
| 1991-93, and most recently in 2003-05. About 81% of | | | | allergen later in life. If there is actually a cause-effect |
| those still alive and traceable responded to the latest | | | | relationship between eczema and asthma, an |
| survey. | | | | aggressive treatment of childhood eczema could |
| 769 of the seven-year-olds in 1968 had childhood | | | | reduce the chances of asthma in later life. |
| eczema. These children showed an increased | | | | As many as one in five children develops atopic |
| incidence of asthma in preadolescence, adolescence, | | | | eczema. It usually begins in the first year of life, but |
| and adulthood. Over time, the incidence of asthma as | | | | rarely before two months. Children from families with |
| teenagers almost doubled in those with childhood | | | | atopic illnesses are at greater risk - as many as 50 |
| eczema compared to those who did not have | | | | per cent of children with atopic eczema also have |
| eczema. 63% of the participants were more likely to | | | | asthma or hay fever. |
| develop asthma as adults. | | | | |