Allergy prevention

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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General information
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Allergies are a significant health and socio-economic problem. In addition to drug treatment, genetic and environmental factors, prevention plays a decisive role.

Both primary prevention and secondary prevention are essential (see Prevention).

The German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAI) developed an "evidence-based" guideline for this purpose (see Table 1).

Note(s)
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Fish oil consumption = intervention strategy for the prevention of allergies: In a larger study, postnatal fish oil consumption in young children was examined for the development of sensitisation using risk models (Clausen et al 2018). It was found that the incidence of sensitisation was significantly lower in the fish oil group. This statement also tended to apply to food allergies.

Literature
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  1. Clausen M et al (2018) Fish oil in infancy protects against food allergy in Iceland-Results from a birthcohort
    study. Allergy 73:1305-1312.
  2. Guideline of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAI) in cooperation with the German Dermatological Society (DDG), Action Alliance for Allergy Prevention. AWMF Guideline Register No. 061/016
  3. Worm M et al (2016) Guideline on the management of IgE-mediated food allergies. Allergology 39: 302-344

Tables
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Prevention measures

Family history: Secondary prevention

No family history: primary prevention

Exclusively breastfeeding for at least 4 months

yes (if not possible, then hypoallergenic food, extensively hydrolysed)

yes

Avoidance of potent food allergens in maternal diets during lactation (effect on atopic eczema possible) only justifiable after weighing the risks of malnutrition

yes

no

No supplementary food before the 4th month of life

yes

yes

No general diet for allergy prevention

yes

yes

No purchase of fur bearing animals

yes

yes

Avoidance of cat keeping

yes

no

Reduction of house dust mite allergen exposure

yes

no

Avoidance of a mould promoting climate

yes

yes

Avoidance of active and passive smoke exposure

yes

yes

Vaccination according to STIKO recommendations

yes

yes

Avoidance of Caesarean section yes yes

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020