The effects of farming and birth order on asthma and allergies in rural Crete

¹ Dept of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine (NHLI) and Royal Brompton Hospital London
² Anti-tuberculosis Unit, Venezalion Hospital, Iraklion, Crete

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: p.cullinan{at}imperial.ac.uk.

	Abstract

A farm childhood is apparently protective in allergic disease but studies of this issue in Europe have been confined to particular types of farming practice. We asked whether this affect was generalisable.

We undertook a cross-sectional survey of 800 school children living in rural Crete. We included standard questions relating to allergic disease and measured atopy through skin prick tests with ten local aeroallergens.

The prevalence of atopy was 24% but associated symptoms were far less common. At all ages, children from farming families had more frequent contact with farm animals (in the main, goats); but were no less likely to be atopic (p=0.99). Atopy and seasonal rhinitis were significantly and independently more common among first born children (odds ratio 1.7, p=0.003).

This community has an "ntermediate"prevalence of atopy but a very low frequency of allergic disease; farming does not seem to be an important determinant, possibly because it is of the "rong sort" Thus farming effects may be specific to local practices. Children of first birth order in this community too appear to be at increased risk of allergic disease.

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