Prevalence of childhood eczema and food sensitization in the First Nations reserve of Natuashish, Labrador, Canada

Table 2 Laboratory comparison of eczema and control groups

		Eczema (N = 22)	Eczema-free controls (N = 40)	p value (where applicable)
Age in years: Mean (SD)		5.48 (2.50)	5.37 (2.29)
Female sex: # (%)		14 (64)	31(77.5)
Eosinophil count: (SD) (×10⁹/L)
Eosinophil count: (SD) (×10⁹/L)		0.73 (0.08)	0.96 (0.14)	0.245
IgE levels*: (kIU/L) # (%)	0-52	0 (0)	2 (5)
	53-199	3 (13.6) ^§	10 (25) ^§
	200-1999	10 (45.5)	22 (55.0)
	≥2000	9 (40.9)	6 (15.0)
Food specific IgE: (kIU/L) Mean (SD)	Egg	2.7 (6.4)	0.2 (0.5)	0.010
	Milk	0.29 (0.61)	0.00 (0.02)	0.005
	Wheat	0.57 (2.53)	0.00 (0.02)	0.160
# of children with food-specific antibody levels ≥ 0.35 kIU/L: # (%)	Egg	7 (32)	0 (0)
	Milk	5 (23)	0 (0)
	Wheat	1 (5)	0 (0)

*Normal IgE: Age 2–9 years = 0–52 kIU/L, Age >9 years = 0–199 kIU/L.
^§All but one of these 13 children were in the 2–9 year age group, thus 12/13 had IgE levels above the age appropriate reference range.

ISSN: 1471-2431