ALERGIJA IN OTROŠTVO

Izpostavljenost alergenom v zgodnji otroški dobi lahko povzroči razvoj alergije v naslednjem  življenjskem obdobju. Visoka koncentracija določenih alergenov v stanovanju dojenčka, posebej če je že kdo od družinskih članov alergik, poveča verjetnost razvoja alergija na lete alergene v zrelejšem obdobju.

As already indicated, there is a period. In early childhood during which exposure to inhalant allergens may result in the development of allergy several years later. Thus, early contact with pollen, pets, and house-dust mites and early feeding with foreign proteins all appear to be associated with an increased risk of the development of allergic disease. A high concentration of allergens in the, home of a neonate, particularly if there is a family history of allergy, may' thus increase the risk of clinical manifestations of allergy to that allergen several years later

Dokazano je, da cigaretni dim oziroma pasivno kajenje povzroča razvoj alergij. Predvsem to velja za rano otroško obdobje . Vsakodnevna izpostavljenost cigaretnemu dimu poveča verjetnost razvoja astme

Passive smoking is by far the best identified risk factor for the development of allergic disease. This is particularly true in early childhood and is independent of how allergy is defined. There is now convincing evidence that daily exposure to tobacco smoke results in an increased risk of developing wheezy bronchitis, asthma, and bronchial hyperreactivity in children. An association between passive smoking and an increased risk of sensitization to environmental allergens has also been demonstrated in many clinical studies, as well as in animal experiments. Moreover, passive smoking results in increased morbidity, increased need for medical treatment, and increased use of asthma medication in asthmatic children. Exposure to maternal smoking seems to have the largest effects, possibly because the mother is the parent more often at home with the child. The long-term effects of childhood exposure to tobacco smoke are unknown. As the number, of cigarette smoking young women has steadily increased in the western industrialized countries over the last 40 years, passive smoking early in life may be one of the factors behind the increasing prevalence of allergy.

Izvleček iz: Bjorkstén B. The environmental influence on childood asthma. Allergy 1999; 54: 17-23

Izpostavljenost alergenom v stanovanjskem okolju ima pomembno vlogo pri razvoju alergične senzibilnosti in astme pri otrocih. Povsod po svetu pršice predstavljajo izvor alergenov v bivalnem okolju. Rizičen nivo izpostavljenosti alergenom je določen. Nivo alergenov pršice > 2 µg/g prahu predstavlja prag, preko katerega pride do razvoja senzibilnosti in astme. Do senzibilnosti lahko pride tudi pri nižjem nivoju alergenov, toda potrebno je daljše časovno obdobje.

Indoor allergen exposure plays a major role in the development of sensitization and triggering of asthma in children. All over the world, mites are common sources of indoor allergens. Risk levels for mite-allergen exposure have been recommended. A mite-allergen level of m 2 mg/g dust is considered a risk level for sensitization and symptoms of asthma. Data from several ongoing prospective studies of children show that mite sensitization may occur below the suggested threshold level. However, from these studies, it seems that high mite-allergen exposure increases the risk of early sensitization, whereas low exposure levels probably take a longer time to induce sensitization.

Izvleček iz: Munir AKM. Risk levels for mite allergen: are they meaningful, where should samples be collected, and how should they be analyzed? Allergy 1998; 53 (Suppl 48): 84-87.