Recent advances on diagnosis and management of childhood asthma and food allergies

Ital J Pediatr. 2013 Dec 27:39:80. doi: 10.1186/1824-7288-39-80.

Abstract

The epidemic of childhood allergic disorders has been associated to the decline of infectious disease. However, exposure to many triggers (airborne viruses, tobacco smoke, pollution, indoor allergens, etc.) contribute to the disease. Breast feeding practices, nutrition, dietary and obesity also play a multifaceted role in shaping the observed worldwide trends of childhood allergies. Guidelines for treatment are available, but their implementation is suboptimal. Then developed countries are slowing learning integrating the development of suitable guidelines with implementation plans. Awareness, psychosocial and family factors strongly influence asthma and food allergy control. Moreover, monitoring tools are necessary to facilitate self-management. By taking into consideration these and many other pragmatic aspects, national public health programs to control the allergic epidemic have been successful in reducing its impact and trace the need for future research in the area.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Editorial
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Asthma / prevention & control
  • Asthma / therapy*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diet
  • Environmental Pollutants / adverse effects
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / prevention & control
  • Food Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Pediatrics / standards
  • Pediatrics / trends
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Primary Prevention*
  • Quality Improvement
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants