Link Between History of Neonatal Jaundice and Early Childhood Allergic Diseases in South Korea.

Aim: Allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis (AD) are prevalent chronic childhood conditions, with a rising incidence globally and in South Korea. Neonatal jaundice is a common perinatal condition. However, its association with the subsequent development of allergic diseases remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study used data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Participants were categorised according to the history and severity of neonatal jaundice, defined by treatment status. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of neonatal jaundice.

Results: Children with neonatal jaundice showed a moderately increased risk of asthma and AR, particularly those who received treatment. Neonatal jaundice requiring treatment showed significantly elevated odds ratios for asthma and AR.

Conclusion: Neonatal jaundice requiring treatment was associated with an increased risk of asthma and AR in early childhood. This suggests that the severity of neonatal jaundice may influence the later development of allergic diseases and highlights the need for closer follow-up of this population.