Increased Fecal IgE Among Infants in a Rural Community of Egypt: An Analysis of Associated Risk Factors

Newborns in rural Bilbeis, Egypt were followed to 1‐year of age to document the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of fecal IgE. Factors associated with increased fecal IgE included infants aged 3–6 months (relative risk (RR) = 3.28, 95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) = 1.03–13.60, p < 0.05) and mother being vaccinated antenatally (RR = 2.17, CI–1.01–4.61, p < 0.05). Decreased fecal IgE was observed with consumption of rice (RR = 0.37, CI = 0.12–0.94, p < 0.05), biscuits (RR = 0.43, CI = 0.15–0.99, p < 0.05), potatoes (RR = 0.39, CI = 0.11–0.98, p < 0.05), and fruits and vegetables (RR = 0.20, CI = 0.02–0.80, p < 0.05). After multivariate adjustment, increased risk was observed with consumption of milk pudding (RR = 7.48, CI = 1.54–36.20, p < 0.05) and wet‐nursed infants (RR = 2.77, CI = 1.17–6.54, p < 0.05). Infants who were completely breastfed (RR = 0.13, CI = 0.02–0.68, p < 0.05) and infants' family owning a television set (RR = 0.29, CI = 0.12–0.67, p < 0.05) were less likely to develop fecal IgE. Our findings indicate that prelacteal feeding with certain foods, early supplementation of breastfeeding, and sociodemographic factors are associated with increased fecal IgE.