A study of the factors responsible for the development of allergic diseases in early life.

ABSTRACT

In order to analyze the determinants involved in the development of allergic diseases early in infancy, we examined the environmental and genetic factors that might affect the induction of such diseases during infancy, using a questionnaire. Maternal pharyngitis during pregnancy was significantly related to the development of atopic dermatitis in their progeny. Moreover, the frequency of the maternal infection was associated with a significantly increased risk of allergy in their infants. The prevalence of post-delivery maternal allergy was positively linked to the allergic symptoms in their children while the likelihood of bearing allergic children was related to the numbers of allergic individuals within their family. These results suggested that pre- and post-natal maternal factors and any genetic predisposition might modify the development of allergy in infancy.