Allergy prevention

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 13.05.2022

Dieser Artikel auf Deutsch

General information
This section has been translated automatically.

Allergies are a significant health and socio-economic problem. In addition to drug treatment, prevention plays an even more 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 (see table 1).

The risk of developing an allergy is influenced by the time at which potentially allergenic foods are consumed. A meta-analysis with large collectives showed that early exposure (between 4 and 11 months of age) induces oral tolerance for both eggs and peanuts; this relationship is not clear for fish (Lerodiakonou 2016). This is not true for celiac disease.

Literature
This section has been translated automatically.

  1. Ierodiakonou D et al. (2016) Timing of Allergenic Food Introduction to the Infant Diet and Risk of Allergic or
  2. Autoimmune Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA 316:1181-1192.
  3. Guideline of the German Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAI) in collaboration with the German Dermatological Society (DDG), Aktionsbündnis Allergieprävention. AWMF Guideline Register No. 061/016.
  4. Worm M et al. (2016) Guideline on the management of IgE-mediated food allergy. Allergology 39: 302-344
  5. https://www.dha-allergien-vorbeugen.de/pdf/leitlinie_allergiepraevention.pdf
  6. https://www.dha-allergien.de/ernaehrung.html

Tables
This section has been translated automatically.

Prevention measures

Familial predisposition: secondary prevention

No family history: Primary prevention

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months, if not possible partially or extensively hydrolyzed infant formula until completed 4th month of life, no soy-based infant formula

yes

no

Balanced and nutrient-dense diet, no evidence for avoidance of potent food allergens in maternal diet during breastfeeding (effect on atopic eczema possible)
,fish in maternal diet during pregnancy or breastfeeding shows a protective effect on the development of atopic diseases in the child

yes

yes

No complementary food before 4 months of age

yes

yes

No general diet for allergy prevention in the 1st year of life

yes

yes

No acquisition of fur bearing animals, dog ownership probably no increased allergy risk

yes

no

Avoidance of cat keeping

yes

no

Reduction of house dust mite allergen exposure

no

no

Avoidance of a mold-promoting climate

yes

yes

Avoidance of active and passive smoke exposure

yes

yes

Indoor pollutant exposure yes yes

Vaccination according to STIKO recommendations

yes

yes

Avoidance of cesarean delivery yes

yes

Incoming links (1)

Prevention in dermatology;

Authors

Last updated on: 13.05.2022