[Allergic diseases and immunological resistance in children from a petroleum area]

The incidence of allergic diseases was studied in the children living in an oil-extracting region of the Republic of Udmurtia. A hygienic assessment of the level of environmental pollution was made in the study areas. The increased atmospheric contamination was ascertained to cause an increase in the incidence of allergic diseases in children. There was a correlation between the concentration of noxious substances as part of the ambient air and the prevalence of allergic diseases in children. The studies suggest that the children living in the oil-extracting area have worse parameters of nonspecific resistance than do the control children. The findings serve as the basis for developing measure to lower environmental pollution and to reduce the incidence of allergic diseases in children.