Prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in children born after in vitro fertilisation.

BACKGROUND: Children born after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are under greater risk of development of some health problems than those children born after spontaneous conception. Yet it is not exactly known what the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases among these children is. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To investigate the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in children born after IVF, and controls born after spontaneous pregnancy using questionnaires of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). METHODS: We recruited 158 children (mean age: 4.60 +/- 2.14 years) born after IVF pregnancies and 102 children (mean age: 5.27 +/- 2.8 years) as control group to investigate the prevalences of asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. The questions in the questionnaire were asked to the parents by telephone or face to face. RESULTS: Wheezing ever has been reported in 19 % of the children born after IVF and in 17.6 % of the control group (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups, in terms of use of any anti-asthma drugs, physician diagnosed asthma and admission to emergency room with wheezing (p > 0.05). In addition, prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were also comparable between two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are similar in children born after IVF and children born after spontaneous conception.