Background: Inflammation is important in atherosclerosis development. Whether common causes of inflammation, like common infections and allergies, contribute to vascular changes already in childhood remains unknown.

Methods: In the first 345 five-year-olds of the WHISTLER birth cohort, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), distensibility and Elastic Modulus (EM) were obtained ultrasonographically. Information on primary health care consumption for infections and allergies was obtained from the general practitioners’ electronic files. Moreover, parental history of allergies was collected.

Results: Neither lifetime nor recent consultations for infections, nor the number of visits for more severe infections was associated with vascular measures (adjusted for age, gender, BMI, parental smoking, gestational age, infant feeding and allergies). Lifetime prescription of antibiotics was not related to vasculature, but antibiotic prescription in the last 3 months was associated with a 18.1 μm increased CIMT (95%-confidence interval (CI): 1.2 – 35.1).

Children for whom primary care consultation for allergic disease had been sought, had a 14.9 μm (95%CI: 5.3 – 24.4) higher CIMT compared to children without allergies (adjusted for age, gender, parental smoking, gestational age, infant feeding and infections). Lifetime anti-histamine prescription was associated with a 11.7 MPa⁻¹ (95%CI: -20.9 - -2.5) lower distensibility and a 23.4 kPa (95%CI: 6.9 – 39.9) higher EM. Recent anti-histamine prescription was associated with a 30.2 μm (95%CI: 10.2 – 50.2) higher CIMT. A positive parental allergy history was associated with a 8.4 μm (95%CI: 1.3 – 15.6) higher CIMT per allergic parent.

Conclusion: Allergies are associated with pre-atherosclerotic vascular changes in healthy young children.