Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Published on: May 31, 2021

Early Risk Assessment and Recognition of Allergies in Children: Rationale, Methodology, and Proposed Algorithms

E Hamelmann¹, B Schaub^2,3,4,5, K Beyer^6,7

¹Department of Pediatrics, Children's Center Bethel, University Hospital OWL, University Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.

|January 26, 2026

Insights

Structured programs for early allergy risk assessment in children are needed. Integrating these into routine check-ups can identify at-risk youth, improve outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.

Area of Science:

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Public Health

Background:

Atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma) are common chronic childhood conditions affecting up to 30% globally.
These conditions frequently co-occur and share common risk factors, impacting over 2.1 million children in Germany.
Existing preventive medical check-ups lack structured programs for early allergy risk assessment and recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop consensus-based algorithms for early risk assessment and recognition of allergies in children.
To integrate these algorithms into existing pediatric preventive medical check-ups.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
A multidisciplinary Task Force developed consensus-based algorithms for stepwise risk assessment.
The approach includes family history, environmental exposures, and early clinical signs like recurrent wheezing.

Main Results:

Targeted diagnostic steps are recommended for at-risk children or those with early signs of atopy, following national/international guidelines.
Recommendations include nutrition, specific sensitization testing, and biomarkers when indicated; routine testing in asymptomatic children is not advised.
Algorithms embedded in routine check-ups enable systematic, early identification, potentially reducing disease severity and healthcare costs.

Conclusions:

Structured early risk assessment programs for childhood allergies are currently lacking but offer significant clinical and economic benefits.
Integration into routine pediatric preventive examinations, supported by standardization and collaboration, can improve long-term outcomes.
Early identification and management of atopic diseases are crucial for affected children and their families.

Read full analysis

Abstract

Background:

Atopic diseases-including atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), allergic rhinitis (AR), and asthma-are the most common chronic conditions in childhood and adolescence, affecting up to 30% of the global population. In Germany alone, more than 2.1 million children and adolescents are affected. These conditions frequently coexist and share common genetic, environmental, dietary, and microbial risk factors.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature review was conducted, and a multidisciplinary Task Force of the German Society for Pediatric Allergology and Environmental Medicine (GPA) and the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI) developed consensus-based algorithms for early risk assessment and recognition of allergies in children in already existing preventive medical check-ups. The approach emphasizes stepwise risk assessment, including family history, environmental exposures, and early clinical signs such as recurrent wheezing.

Results:

For children identified as at risk for or with early clinical signs of atopy, targeted diagnostic steps are recommended that follow the national/international guidelines for the management of the suspected atopic disease. This may include general and specific recommendations for nutrition, measurement of specific sensitization and selected biomarkers, if indicated and recommended by the guidelines. Routine allergy testing in asymptomatic children is not recommended. The algorithms are designed to be embedded into routine pediatric check-ups, enabling systematic and early identification of children at increased risk or with early clinical signs of atopic diseases. Early recognition and management can reduce disease severity, improve quality of life, and decrease healthcare costs.

Conclusion:

Structured programs for early risk assessment and recognition of allergies in children are currently lacking but can provide substantial clinical and economic benefits. Integration into routine pediatric preventive examinations, supported by standardization, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustainable funding, offers a promising strategy to improve long-term outcomes for affected children and their families.

Keywords:

atopic diseases children early allergy recognition predictive markers prevention risk assessment risk factors

More Related Videos

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities

Published on: January 29, 2014

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...

Trial and Error and Algorithm

Trial and Error and Algorithm

A problem-solving strategy is a plan of action used to find a solution. Different strategies have distinct action plans. Trial and error involves trying different solutions until one works. For instance, to fix a broken printer, you might check ink levels, ensure the paper tray isn't jammed, and verify the printer's connection to your laptop. This method can be time-consuming but is commonly used. Thomas Edison, for example, used trial and error to find a suitable filament for the light...

Relative Risk

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...

Response Surface Methodology

Response Surface Methodology

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is a collection of statistical and mathematical techniques used to develop, improve, and optimize processes. It is particularly valuable when many input variables or factors potentially influence a response variable.
The process of RSM involves several key steps:

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Beyond in silico prediction: multi-omics to identify a pathogenic deep intronic HNRNPK variant in Au-Kline syndrome.

Journal of human genetics·2026

Whole-blood CD3/CD28-stimulated cytokine responses in children with preschool wheeze, asthma, and healthy controls.

Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology·2026

Increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein in more severe wheeze/asthma phenotypes in child- and adulthood in ALLIANCE.

Respiratory research·2026

EAACI Guidelines on Environmental Science for Allergy and Asthma-Evidence-Based Recommendations for Prevention and Public Health Action to Mitigate the Impact of Pollen Exposure on Respiratory Allergy.

Allergy·2026

Bridging Rare to Common Diseases: Precision Medicine and the Transforming Landscape of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology·2026

Post-pandemic resurgence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and its emerging link with Rhinovirus in children.

Infection·2026

See all related articles