Confirmation of the Association Between Neonatal Jaundice and Childhood Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, and Atopic Dermatitis

Purpose: Prior investigations into the association between neonatal jaundice and asthma (AS) remain inconclusive. Furthermore, studies investigating the associations between allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis (AD), and neonatal jaundice are limited; most of these investigations have been database studies. Through a questionnaire-based study, we aimed to explore the association between neonatal jaundice and AS, AR, and AD. Methods: From 12 randomly selected elementary schools in Taichung, Taiwan, 1,078 children, aged 6-8 years, were recruited. Based on the answer to a neonatal jaundice history question the children were separated into a Case Group (with neonatal jaundice history) and a Control Group (without neonatal jaundice history). Histories of doctor-diagnosed AS, AR, or AD, and other allergic conditions were also compared between the two groups. Results: In the Case Group, the ratios of doctor-diagnosed AS (odds ratio [OR]: 2.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85~3.73; p < 0.001), AR (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.46~2.44;p < 0.001), and AD (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.35~1.67; p < 0.001) were significantly higher than those in the Control Group. In the most recent 6 months, the incidence of airway allergy for each sex, nasal allergy for boys, and skin allergy for girls were still higher in the Case Group. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to use a questionnaire-based analysis to study the association between neonatal jaundice and allergic diseases. For children in one city in Taiwan, we found a strong association between neonatal jaundice and AS, AR, AD.