[Air pollution and respiratory tract diseases in students. A comparison within Germany]

Recent studies in Germany after re-unification did not show any a link between air-pollution and the prevalence of asthma. The data indicate that there is a tendency for increasing rates of allergic rhinitis and asthma-related symptoms in the eastern part of Germany. It is not clear whether this is due to a true increase in morbidity or a higher sensitivity to environmental problems in the public and among the doctors. However, there are observations compatible with the hypothesis that viral respiratory RSV infections early in childhood somehow prevent the expression of allergic disease later in life. On the other hand the increasing rate of asthmatic disease is due to later childhood RV-infections in children displaying allergic rhinitis. These risks childhood asthma need more detailed attention interest in future studies.