At the beginning of the 20th century, allergies were still a rarity, but nowadays they have become a real widespread disease and – allergies are still on the rise. In the meantime, more and more babies and children are also falling ill with allergies. By the time they start school, 10 to 15 percent of children today suffer from neurodermatitis and 25 to 30 percent from a pollen allergy. 40 percent of young allergy sufferers develop allergic asthma later in life if medical care is lacking or inadequate.
Early diagnosis of allergies is important
Allergies in childhood often go undiagnosed for too long. With early diagnosis and appropriately targeted treatment, many allergies can be well controlled and the further course of the disease can be favorably influenced. Early consultation with a doctor in the case of corresponding symptoms is therefore particularly important for young children. If allergies are not recognized or insufficiently treated, children are severely restricted in their development and in their quality of life.
Who is at risk?
A major risk factor is undoubtedly genetic predisposition. If both parents have allergies, the children’s allergy risk is over 30 percent; if only one parent is affected, the risk is still 20 percent. However, not everyone who is genetically predisposed necessarily becomes an allergy sufferer. Conversely, about 15 percent of all children who are not genetically predisposed nevertheless develop allergies. The reason: in the development of allergic diseases, lifestyle and the environment play a major role in addition to heredity.
Why are allergies on the rise in children?
The reasons have not yet been definitively clarified. However, it is obvious that in industrialized countries with a high standard of living, allergies are also on the rise. In particular, an excess of hygiene measures around the child or the frequent use of disinfectants contribute to this. It should be remembered, however, that in infants even small amounts of an allergen can be sufficient to cause allergic reactions such as rashes, diarrhea or swelling.
Allergy career: development of allergies in infants and children.
The development of allergies in babies and children often follows a typical course:
- In infancy, it is atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition that can be affected by food, namely cow’s milk and chicken egg protein.
- From two years – when the neurodermatitis subsides – the first asthma symptoms may become apparent in about half of those affected. Triggers are now – in addition to viral infections – the so-called inhalation allergens, typically dust mites or animal hair.
- At school age is very often added a pollen allergy (hay fever).
This typical time sequence is known as allergy career or allergic march, in English-language literature as “allergic march” or “atopic march”. Conversely, this does not mean that all children with atopic dermatitis later develop asthma or hay fever.
Allergies: recommendations for prevention
Children at risk are those whose parents and siblings have allergies and thus have a hereditary predisposition. If people who have a hereditary predisposition come into frequent contact with allergens, the allergic disease may break out much more easily and earlier than in people without this predisposition. The likelihood of allergy developing increases in at-risk children the less preventive measures are taken. The following factors play a major role in preventing allergies in children:
- Smoking
- Breastfeeding
- Supplementary food
- Diets
- Pets
- House dust mites
- Vaccinations
- Hygiene
Below we explain how these factors are related to the likelihood that a child will develop an allergy.
1. smoking during pregnancy promotes allergies.
During and after pregnancy, provide a smoke-free environment and refrain from smoking. Cigarette smoke (including passive smoking) increases allergic reactions and greatly increases the risk of allergies in both adults and children. A woman who smokes during her pregnancy increases the child’s allergy risk eightfold.
2. breastfeeding lowers allergy risk
During the first months of life (four to six months), children should be exclusively breastfed. A balanced diet is recommended for breastfeeding, and special diets are not necessary.
3. the right complementary food
If complete breastfeeding is not possible, then only low-allergen, so-called hypoallergenic infant formula should be given. The introduction of complementary foods is not recommended until after the fourth to sixth month. It should be noted that only one new food is introduced per week at a time.
4. diets and avoidance of certain foods.
Diets should be rejected without evidence of allergy, as they only cause unnecessary stress for children and parents. On the other hand, foods with a high risk of allergy, such as fresh cow’s milk, eggs, fish, nuts, tomatoes, citrus fruits, soy, chocolate, celery, and wheat flour, should generally not be given throughout the first year of life.
5. pets: do not allow contact too early
The earlier, general recommendation of American allergists to ban cats completely from the household has since been put into perspective. However, it is recommended to avoid early contact with pet dander. This applies in particular to pets such as cats, dogs, or guinea pigs, and applies especially if the child has an increased risk of developing an allergy, for example, due to a genetic predisposition.
6. fight dust mites
House dust mites still represent the most common indoor allergen. Therefore, measures should be taken to banish the house dust mite from rooms to a large extent, this applies in particular to the sleeping area. Remember that the mites can also accumulate in stuffed animals. Therefore, you should wash the stuffed animals regularly or put them in the freezer overnight.
7. vaccinations reduce allergy risk
Vaccinations against whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and measles reduce the risk of allergies. Experts therefore call for at-risk children to be vaccinated consistently according to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO).
8. too much hygiene harms
It is now clear to experts that a lack of contact with germs increases the risk of allergies. For example, children who grow up on a farm or have regular contact with other children in a toddler group are less likely to develop allergies. This is because the immune system is only properly exercised when it is running at full speed. For this reason, children with many siblings also fall ill less often with hay fever, according to studies.
Early diagnosis is important
If a child suffers from the typical symptoms of hay fever at pollen season, it is advisable to visit the pediatrician or allergist. Because the earlier an allergic disease is treated, the better it is. Early treatment can often prevent chronic diseases resulting from allergy, for example allergic asthma. If the trigger of an allergy is known, it can either be avoided or treated with medication or immunization (hyposensitization). To diagnose an allergy, blood tests can already be performed on babies, which are just as informative as skin tests.
Conclusion: allergies in babies and children
In order to prevent a career of allergies in time, it makes sense to pay attention to factors that can promote allergies already in the first months of life. Preventive measures can help reduce the risks of developing allergies later in life. Early recognition of an allergy can also help prevent the development of chronic secondary diseases through appropriate treatment.
