Related Experiment Videos
[The prevention of allergic diseases in 174 children "at risk" for atopy]
G Bruno1, P G Giampietro, R Nisini
1Servizio Speciale di Allergologia ed Immunologia Clinica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italia.
Insights
Preventive programs involving diet and environmental changes in infancy can significantly reduce allergic diseases in high-risk infants. These interventions, including breastfeeding and hygiene, showed a low prevalence of atopy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Immunology
Background:
- Allergic diseases pose a significant health burden.
- Subjects with a family history of atopy are at higher risk.
- Early life interventions may mitigate atopic disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a preventive program for atopic diseases in high-risk infants.
- To assess the impact of specific dietetic and environmental manipulations on allergy development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 174 high-risk infants.
- Recommendations included exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, soy milk if needed, delayed weaning, and strict hygiene.
- Infants were born at San Giovanni Calibita Hospital of Rome.
Main Results:
- A low prevalence of atopic disease (10%) was observed in the studied population.
- No severe allergic manifestations were reported in the infants following the program.
- The intervention group showed a significant reduction in atopic disease incidence.
Conclusions:
- Dietetic-environmental manipulations in early infancy are effective in preventing atopic diseases.
- Breastfeeding, appropriate formula, delayed weaning, and hygiene are key components of successful prevention.
- These findings support the implementation of early-life preventive strategies for at-risk populations.
Abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated that it is possible to reduce allergic diseases in subjects "at risk" for atopy through the adoption of particular dietetic-environmental manipulations in the first few months of life. We have followed-up prospectively 174 infants, children and/or brothers of atopics, born at San Giovanni Calibita Hospital of Rome. In all cases, exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of life was recommended, with integration/replacement with soy milk (Isomil, Abbott), delayed weaning beyond the 6th month of life and rigorous hygienic environmental manipulation. The low prevalence of atopic disease (10%) and the absence of serious allergic manifestations in this "at risk" population confirms the advantage of such preventive programs.