Increased risk of allergy hospitalization after cesarean delivery: a longitudinal study of 950,000 children

Cesarean delivery is increasingly implicated in the development of childhood allergies.1 –3 In newborns, cesarean delivery prevents colonization by maternal vaginal and intestinal flora and is associated with mucosal dysbiosis.4 Mucosal dysbiosis is thought to impair immune tolerance and facilitate allergic sensitization.4,5 However, recent data suggesting that operative vaginal deliv ery is also associated with asthma and allergy challenge this hypothesis.2,6 Operative vaginal delivery does not cause mucosal dysbiosis as fetuses born with forceps or vacuum instrumentation pass through the vagina and are colonized by maternal flora.
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research