4. Association between PFAS and allergic diseases or sensitization in early childhood
PFAS was associated with food allergy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.803; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.795–8.057) and AD at age 1–3 years (aOR, 2.393; 95% CI: 1.243–4.609) (Table 3). Sensitization to milk or egg white in serum-specific IgE at 1 year and sensitization to food allergens in the skin prick test performed at age 3 years were risk factors in the development of PFAS in schoolchildren (Table 3). However, there was no significant association between PFAS and AR or recurrent wheeze between children aged 1–3 years (Table 3).
Among children with PFAS, sensitization rate to egg (14.3%), milk (5.6%), peanut (5.6%), and grass (5.6%) at age 3 years was higher in children with PFAS than those without PFAS (Table E2).