A major population-based study in South Korea found a significantly elevated risk of asthma in children diagnosed with early-onset atopic dermatitis (AD). AD, a common inflammatory skin condition in infants, is part of the 'atopic march,' where allergic diseases develop sequentially.
The research analyzed data from over 1.1 million children with AD before age two, tracking them into adolescence. Asthma prevalence peaked at age three, affecting 29% of these children. While this prevalence decreased with age, it remained higher than in the general population.
Key risk factors for asthma in children with early AD included male sex, preterm birth, persistent AD, coexisting food allergies, and early respiratory infections like rhinovirus or RSV.
Conversely, children diagnosed with AD after age one and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds showed a lower risk of developing asthma.
These findings underscore the importance of early identification and close monitoring of high-risk children with AD for respiratory symptoms, especially in the crucial early years.