[Evaluation of markers in pediatric allergies]

Atopic diseases are more and more frequent (10-20%) in childhood with high social costs. The Author decided to analyze the markers useful to forecast the risk and development of atopic diseases in newborns by perusing the existing literature and personal experience, in order to evaluate the possibilities of adopting, first, a mass screening and, subsequently, precautionary measures suitable to avoid the onset of atopic diseases. A family history of atopic disease and the total serum IgE from the umbilical cord are the markers which are easiest to investigate. They allow detecting 80% of the subjects at allergological risk. But they are not sufficient to program a screening and a primary prevention in children at allergological risk.