Aim: To estimate the association between baby swimming and recurrent respiratory tract infections and otitis media in the first year of life in children of parents without and with atopy. Methods: Norwegian schoolchildren (n= 2862) was enrolled in a cross‐sectional study of asthma and allergy using the questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The outcomes were parental retrospective report of recurrent respiratory tract infections and otitis media diagnosed by a physician in the first year of life. The exposure was baby swimming during the same period. Parental atopy reflects a history of maternal or paternal asthma, hayfever or eczema. Results: The prevalence of recurrent respiratory tract infections was higher (12.3%) among children who took part in baby swimming than among those who did not (7.5%). The prevalence of recurrent respiratory tract infections during the first year of life was 5.6% and 10.5%, respectively, in children of parents without and with atopy, whereas the prevalence of baby swimming was 5.6% and 5.1%, respectively, in the two groups. Stratified analysis using parental atopy as strata showed that the increased risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections was only present among children of parents with atopy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.08, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08–4.03]. A similar trend was present for otitis media (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 0.96–3.25). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that baby swimming and infant respiratory health may be linked. The findings need to be examined in a longitudinal study.

The present study suggests that the early introduction of daily fresh fruit or vegetables may decrease the risk of asthma after 1 y of life, whereas allergic sensitization at school age seemed to increase with extra vitamin and cod liver oil supplements during infancy. Living area influenced allergic sensitization, with differences between coastal and inland areas.

O Ov ve er rn ni ig gh ht t p pr ro ot te ec ct ti io on n b by y i in nh ha al le ed d s sa al lm me et te er ro ol l o on n e ex xe er rc ci is se e--i in nd du uc ce ed d a as st th hm ma a i in n c ch hi il ld dr re en n ABSTRACT: The main aim of the present study was to evaluate whether inhaled salmeterol given in the evening protected against exercise-induced asthma the next morning. Twenty three children (12 males and 11 females) with a mean age of 11 yrs and with exercise-induced asthma participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled study. The children inhaled salmeterol 25 µg, salmeterol 50 µg and placebo by Diskhaler® at 10 p.m. on 3 separate days. Next morning, half of the children ran on a motor-driven treadmill for 6 min at submaximal load at 8 a.m. and the remainder at 10 a.m. Lung function was measured by maximal expiratory flowvolume loops before running, immediately after, and 3, 6, 10 and 15 min after running.The mean maximum reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) after treadmill run was 34% before inclusion in the study. Mean maximum fall in FEV1 was significantly greater after placebo: 30% (23-36) (95% confidence interval) than after salmeterol 25 µg: 19% (12-23) or salmeterol 50 µg: 18% (12-25). In addition to the reduced postexercise bronchoconstriction, pre-exercise lung function (FEV1) was significantly higher both after salmeterol 25 µg: 2.4 L·s -1 (2.1-2.7) and salmeterol 50 µg: 2.5 L·s -1 (2.2-2.8) than after placebo: 2.2 L·s -1 (1.9-2.5). No significant differences in pre-and postexercise lung function were found between children tested at 8 or 10 a.m., or in relation to salmeterol dosage.Thus, inhaled salmeterol 25 and 50 µg offered similar overnight protection against exercise-induced asthma and improved baseline lung function in the morning as compared to placebo.

Recurrent respiratory tract infections during the first 3 years of life are negatively associated with atopy at school age in children with asthma.