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Viewpoint: are doctors responsible for the increase in allergic diseases?
Hugo P Van Bever1, Lynette P-C Shek, Dawn L Lim
1Department of Paediatrics, National University Singapore (NUS), Singapore. paevbhps@nus.edu.sg
Summary
Changes in childhood medical practices, including paracetamol use and broad-spectrum antibiotics, may contribute to the rise in allergic diseases. Further research is needed to confirm these potential links.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Allergic diseases have significantly increased over the past two decades.
- Current explanations like increased allergen exposure or decreased bacterial load are insufficient.
- Emerging factors from the 1980s warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore potential environmental and medical factors contributing to the rise in childhood allergies.
- To investigate the role of specific medical interventions introduced in the 1980s.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical practices and allergy prevalence trends.
- Correlation study examining the introduction of paracetamol, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and allergen avoidance advice against allergy incidence.
Main Results:
- The study identifies the switch from aspirin to paracetamol, introduction of broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g., cephalosporins), and allergen avoidance advice as key changes around the 1980s.
- These changes, individually or combined, are hypothesized as potential contributors to increased allergic diseases.
Conclusions:
- The rise in childhood allergic diseases may be linked to shifts in medical management and environmental advice implemented since the 1980s.
- Further investigation is required to establish causality between these specific interventions and the increasing prevalence of allergies.