Manifestation of atopy is not related to patient's month of birth

The first months of life may be an important period for allergic sensitization. Several studies suggest a relationship between the month of birth (MB) and the development of skin sensitivity to aeroallergens or the manifestation of an atopic disease. In 1988 and 1989 we investigated a population of 1066 Bavarian preschool children aged 5–6 years. Skin prick tests were performed with common aeroallergens (grass pollen, birch pollen, house‐dust mite, eat epithelia). The personal history of atopic disease (atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma) was recorded by a questionnaire, and the presence of overt atopic disease was documented by a personal examination. Positive prick test reactions to the above‐mentioned aeroallergens were found in 15.4%, 9.2%, 12.2%, and 10.4% of the subjects, respectively; lifetime prevalence of manifest atopic disease was 22.2% for atopic eczema, 11.7% for allergic rhinitis, and 4.5% for asthma. The MB distributions of children reacting to aeroallergens or of those with atopic diseases were compared with those of subjects with corresponding negative findings. Chi‐square tests were performed for each aeroallergen and each of the atopic diseases separately. No significant differences among the MB distributions were found (P>0.3). Thus, in this coherent group. MB correlated neither to allergic sensitization nor to manifest atopic disease.