Summer babies at greater risk of developing coeliac diseaseDecember 13, 2002The risk of developing coeliac disease is higher for children born in the summer compared with the winter, finds a study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Researchers in Sweden identified 2,151 children with coeliac disease from a national register of child health covering the period from 1973 to 1997. Month of birth was classified into winter season, including autumn (September to February) and summer season, including spring (March to August). The risk of coeliac disease was significantly higher for children born in the summer compared with the winter, but only in children below 2 years of age at diagnosis. This seasonal pattern prevailed during a 10-year epidemic of coeliac disease, when levels of the disease varied threefold.
These findings suggest causal environmental exposure(s) that change during the year, say the authors. Infections might be the exposure of importance, either by means of a direct causal role or through interaction with other exposures, for example, gluten intake. However, non-infectious exposures should also be explored as possible contributing causal factors. Prevention might be possible if these causal exposures are identified, they conclude. British Medical Journal (BMJ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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