Babies who receive the whole cellular pertussis vaccine are less likely to be diagnosed with food allergies than those who are given the acellular pertussis vaccine, an Australian study shows.

WA researchers analysed data on children born between 1997 and 1999, when Australia transitioned from whole pertussis vaccines to acellular pertussis vaccines for scheduled doses.

Children diagnosed with IgE-mediated food allergy were individually matched to 10 controls by date of birth, socioeconomic level, and birth place in the nest control study.

Cases had a documented clinical history of symptoms consistent with a typical IgE-mediated food allergic reaction within one hour of ingestion of a food.