Severity of eczema a barometer for allergies later in life

Children with more severe cases of the skin condition eczema are less likely than others to outgrow their milk or egg allergy. The study included more than 500 children, aged 3 months to 15 months, with egg or milk allergy. They were assessed for eczema and categorized as "none-mild" or "moderate-severe." Eczema, also often called atopic dermatitis, usually takes the form of swollen, irritated, itchy skin. During two years of follow-up, milk allergy was outgrown by 46 percent of children with none-mild eczema at enrollment, compared with 25 percent of those with moderate-severe eczema. The study also found that 39 percent of children with none-mild eczema outgrew their egg allergy, compared with 21 percent of those with moderate-severe eczema. The study was scheduled for presentation at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).