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STRUCTURED ABSTRACTS OF SENTINEL ARTICLES: PICKET
Thumb-sucking or nail-biting in childhood led to a reduction in atopic sensitisation but not asthma or hay fever

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-311819

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    Study design

    Design: Prospective longitudinal population-based birth cohort study.

    Study question

    Do children who have oral habits (thumb-sucking or nail-biting) have a lower risk of developing atopic sensitisation, asthma and hay fever?

    Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand, participants born in 1972–1973.

    Cohorts: A birth cohort of 1037 participants was asked multiple questions at multiple time points. For this study, ‘oral habits’ (frequently sucked their finger/thumb or bit their nails) were assessed at 5, 7, 9 and 11 years.

    Outcomes: 11 or 12 panel skin prick testing at age 13 and 32 years. Atopic sensitisation was defined as having ≥1 positive response to an allergen. Asthma was diagnosed …

    Correspondence to Dr Fozia Roked, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK; fozia.roked{at}doctors.org.uk

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors FR drafted the abstract/summary of original paper being picketed. JN drafted the commentary.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.