The Canadian Childhood Asthma Primary Prevention Study

Avoidance of any one of the individual risk factors associated with childhood asthma has not been successful in preventing its development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention programme for the primary prevention of asthma in high-risk infants at 7 years of age. Five hundred and forty-five high-risk infants with an immediate family history of asthma and allergies were prospectively randomized into intervention and control groups pre-natally. (more…)

Oral Food Challenges & Relationship to Allergen-Specific IgE Levels

Diagnosis of food hypersensitivity is a clinical challenge and the only current definitive test is the Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenges. Although the Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenges is the current gold standard, it is difficult to perform and is very time-consuming. Hence, researchers are continually evaluating new tests and assessing the value of the available serum tests. (more…)

Atopy Patch Test Accuracy in Diagnosing Hypersensitivity to Cow’s Milk & Hen’s Egg

Over the last 5 years some studies have suggested that the atopy patch test (APT) may be a useful test in atopic dermatitis children who have suspected food hypersensitivity and may even obviate the need for oral challenges. An alternative test to oral allergy challenges with high sensitivity and specificity would be helpful in the diagnosis of food hypersensitivity. (more…)

Atopic Dermatitis Risk Factors in Children at 3.5 Years Of Age

Atopic Dermatitis Children
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is increasing in Western societies. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that this is due to reduced exposure to environmental allergens and infections during early life. The authors examined factors associated with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis at 3.5 years of age, especially those factors implicated by the hygiene hypothesis. The Auckland Birthweight Collaborative study is a case–control study of risk factors for small-for-gestational-age babies. Cases were born at term with birth weight at or below the 10th centile; controls were appropriate for gestational age, with birth weight above the 10th centile. (more…)

Allergen-Specific IgE and Serum IgE: Early Immune Development Underlying Allergies

Serum IgE
A paradigm of immune development underlies allergy development and progression in early childhood. Briefly, the immune system of the fetus is maintained in a tolerogenic state, preventing adverse immune responses and rejection between the mother and fetus. Placental interleukin-10 (IL-10) suppresses the production of immune-potentiating inter-feron gamma (IFN-y) by fetal immune cells. IFN-y downregulates the production of pro-allergic cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13. (more…)

Systemic Allergic Reactions: Causes, Reaction, and Treatment

Systemic Allergic Reactions
Systemic allergic reactions are a relatively common clinical emergency. In their mildest form, they may just manifest as systemic cutaneous reactions with pruritis, allergy urticaria and angioedema. In more severe cases there are cardiorespiratory symptoms such as stridor, wheeze, difficulty in breathing or hypotension. Anaphylaxis has been defined as a ‘severe, life-threatening generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction’. The prevalence of systemic allergic reactions is unclear because of the lack of a clear, consistent definition and large prospective population studies. (more…)

EpiPen Training For Kids With Food Allergies

EpiPen Training For Children
Families frequently do not use their self-injectable adrenaline device, even when their kids is experiencing a potentially life-threatening cardiorespiratory allergic reaction to a food allergen. Fatal food allergy anaphylaxis is rare but well recognized and the early use of intramuscular adrenaline may be life-saving. (more…)

House Dust Mite Allergy Prevention With Dust Mite-Impermeable Covers

House Dust Mite Allergy
To prevent the development of allergy, allergen avoidance has to be instituted before sensitization has occurred. The specific type of aero allergens may vary depending on the climatic and economic situation. For example, House Dust Mite is the most important allergen in humid climates and pet allergens assume importance in cold countries, while cockroach allergen is the major sensitizing agent in crowded, inner city areas. Several large prospective studies have instituted House Dust Mites avoidance measures during pregnancy, at birth and later in childhood, and assessed children for asthma and allergic manifestations. (more…)

Breast-Feeding Reduces The Risk Of Asthma During The First 4 Years Of Life

breast feeding allergy asthma
The protective effect of breast-feeding on asthma and allergy has been debated for more than 60 years without any hope of a consensus. A major problem is the lack of randomized controlled trials. However, breast-feeding has a number of other benefits and should be recommended irrespective of any effect on asthma or allergy. This is why randomized trials are not considered ethical. Thus, we have to rely on observational studies, which have produced conflicting results. Mothers who do or do not breastfeed differ in several environmental exposures, including socio-economic class, smoking and area of living, which influence indoor and outdoor exposure to pollutants. Despite statistical adjustment for these confounding factors, the evidence is never as robust as it would be with an randomized controlled trial. (more…)

Sublingual Immunotherapy Safety In Children Below The Age Of 5 Years

Sublingual Immunotherapy Children
The increasing prevalence of allergic disease in the Western world has led to the concept of the ‘allergic march’ to describe the evolving spectrum of disease that often begins in childhood. The use of allergen immunotherapy in children has the potential of altering the natural course of allergic disease. However, concerns regarding the safety of using this treatment in children are an obstacle to attenuating the allergic march. The study of Di Rienzo and colleagues reviews the safety of Sublingual Immunotherapy in children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. (more…)

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