I. Annesi et Mp. Oryszczyn, THE CONTRIBUTION OF EPIDEMIOLOGY IN THE S TUDY OF THE INFANTILE ALLERGIC RESPONSE, Revue des maladies respiratoires, 11(4), 1994, pp. 325-344
Allergy is the conjunction of hereditary predisposition and risk facto
rs encountered in the environment, phenomenon which can be observed ve
ry early in individual life. The aim of this review is to present the
contribution of epidemiology in the study of allergic response in chil
dhood, from sensitization to clinical manifestations as eczema, asthma
and rhinitis. The first contribution of epidemiology has consisted in
estimating the scatter of the allergic response, the presence of circ
ulating antibodies against allergens (IgE and IgG), the evaluation of
immediate hypersensitivity (such as the response to skin prick tests)
and the prevalence of clinical manifestations. Then, knowledge of alle
rgic response has been improved by the contribution of aetiological ep
idemiology. Various risk factors have been described according to the
different stages during life in which their effects are observable. In
prenatal life, potential risk factors are maternal immunity and smoki
ng during pregnancy. Later in perinatal or neonatal life they are peri
natal complications, month of birth and maternal smoking. Lastly, in i
nfancy a role can be played by feeding, immunological deficiencies, in
fections, parental smoking and early exposure to allergens or pollutio
n. Perceiving these risk factors helps to determine strategies to prev
ent allergy occurence.