[What's new in pediatric allergology? A review of the international literature from October 2002 to September 2003]. / Allergologie pédiatrique. Quoi de neuf? Une revue de la littérature internationale d'octobre 2002 à septembre 2003.

ABSTRACT

Most epidemiological studies published in 2002-2003 confirm, in a large number of children, the results of previous studies. Most important results show that the risk of severe and persistent atopy and/or asthma is significantly higher in children with numerous risk factors than in children with a limited number of risk factors. Moreover, risks of severity and persistence are increased in children with early onset allergic disease, and with severe symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Effects of early exposure to furred pets are related to the degree of exposure at home, but are also modulated by the degree of exposure in the general population. In contrast with previous results, a large pediatric study shows that, at the age of 5 years, the prevalence of atopic diseases is inversely correlated with the number of vaccine infections. The efficacy of sublingual-swallow hyposensitization is long-lasting (up to 4-5 years after the discontinuation of treatment) in children with asthma due to house dust mite allergy. In contrast, individualized homeopathy, as an adjunct in the treatment of childhood asthma, is not superior to placebo in improving the quality of life of children with mild to moderate asthma. Supplementation of infant formulas with viable but not heat-inactivated probiotic bacteria is beneficial in the management of atopic dermatitis and cow's milk allergy. Finally the prevalence of peanut allergy has significantly increased between 1989 and 1994-1996 in European children, and at present, in France, the management in schools of children with food allergy is clearly inadequate.