slides
Risk factors for the development of atopic disease in infancy and early childhood
- Publication date
- 27 February 2002
- Publisher
- The etiology of allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, is
multifactorial, involving interaction of both genetic and environmental factors [1]. The prevalence
of allergic diseases has doubled in the last 3 decades. especially in Western countries
[2]. This sudden rise can not be explained by genetic factors and indicates that environmental
factors play a crucial role in the development and clinical expression of allergic disease [3].
Various recent immunological and epidemiological studies have provided more insight into
the basic patho-physiological mechanisms and genetic- and environmental risk factors for the
development of allergic disease. It is clear that most children with allergic disease started to
have symptoms in early life, and that early life influences are critically important in the development
of allergic disease [4, 5]. A key feature in established allergic disease is the production
of allergen specific IgE and the development of allergic inflammation with influx of
eosinophils, basophils, mast cells and T-cells in the tissue [3]. The aims of this thesis (chapter
3) are: (1) to evaluate the role of various environmental factors on the development of symptoms
of allergic disease; (2) to provide more insight in the immunological processes that result
in the development of allergic disease in early childhood.
In chapter 2, the literature on the development of allergic disease is reviewed. Special emphasis
is put
