Origins of allergic disease: Maternal and early childhood factors

The incidence of allergic diseases has increased during the past 2 decades. 1 DeKruyff R.H. Zhang W. Nadeau K.C. Leung D.Y.M. Wills-Karp M. Summary of the Keystone Symposium “Origins of allergic disease: microbial, epithelial and immune interactions,” March 24-27, Tahoe City, California. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020; 145: 1072-1081.e1 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar The study of the origins of allergy is important to understand the mechanisms of allergy development and to produce interventions to treat or prevent allergic diseases. The term atopic march is used to describe the progression of allergic disease development, beginning with atopic dermatitis (AD) and progressing to food allergy (FA), asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Although it is necessary to focus on early childhood factors, the prenatal environment must also be considered. In particular, factors that contribute to epithelial barrier disruption in the skin, lungs, and gut play a role in the type 2 inflammation associated with allergic diseases. Pollution, other environmental irritants, food chemicals, and allergens are areas of focus that drive allergy development in utero into early childhood.