Infant food allergy signals later asthma risk: Aussie study

Infants with confirmed food allergy are nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma by age six than those without allergies, suggest results from an Australian longitudinal study.
Melbourne researchers also report that food allergy in infancy, particularly peanut allergy, is associated with reduced lung function regardless of whether it resolves or persists.
Their prospective cohort study — dubbed HealthNuts — included some 3200 children who underwent skin-prick testing for four food allergens and oral food challenges at age one.
The tests were repeated at age six with additional food allergens and aeroallergens, along with lung function testing by spirometry; about 14% had an asthma diagnosis.