Evaluation of selected aspects of the hygiene hypothesis and their effect on the incidence of allergy
Objectives The development of allergic conditions is largely dependent on the interactions between genetic (individual genetic predisposition) and environmental factors (exposure to risk factors). The aim of this study was an attempt to assess the influence of selected elements of the hygiene theory...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2023-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijomeh.eu/Evaluation-of-selected-aspects-of-the-hygiene-hypothesis-and-their-effect-on-the,152680,0,2.html |
| Summary: | Objectives
The development of allergic conditions is largely dependent on the interactions between genetic (individual genetic predisposition) and
environmental factors (exposure to risk factors). The aim of this study was an attempt to assess the influence of selected elements of the hygiene
theory in the development of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Material and Methods
The study group consisted of 5518 women
and 3868 men. The method that was used was the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II and International Study of Asthma and
Allergies in Childhood questionnaire validated and adapted to Central and Eastern European conditions. The project was conducted in 8 urban
areas (Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Białystok, Warsaw) and 1 rural area (Krasnystaw county). This study had 2 stages;
the first stage involved grouping the 22 500 respondents based on their questionnaire responses with the use of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA);
the second stage involved 7000 subjects, who underwent additional assessments: skin prick tests (birch, grasses/cereals, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
and Dermatophagoides farinae , molds [set I: Botrytis cinerea , Cladosporium herbarum , Alternaria tenuis , Curvularia lunata , Fusarium
moniliforme , Helminthosporium ], molds [set II: Aspergillus fumigatus , Mucor mucedo , Penicillium notatum , Pullularia pullulans , Rhizopus nigricans , Serpula lacrymans ], cat, dog, molds Cladosporium herbarum , Alternaria tenuis ) and spirometry tests.
Results
The age at which children attend
the nursery school is critical to the development of allergic diseases; in allergic rhinitis, the risk of an IgE-dependent reaction is 2 times higher in
the second than in the first year of life (p = 0.00147, p < 0.05), while in asthma, having a large number of siblings increases the risk of developing
obstructive disease by almost 6 times (p = 0.00316, p < 0.05).The age at which children attend
the nursery school is critical to the development of allergic diseases; in allergic rhinitis, the risk of an IgE-dependent reaction is 2 times higher in
the second than in the first year of life (p = 0.00147, p < 0.05), while in asthma, having a large number of siblings increases the risk of developing
obstructive disease by almost 6 times (p = 0.00316, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The hygiene theory is particularly applicable and can explain the relationship
of selected habits in the development of allergic diseases. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):69–83 |
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| ISSN: | 1232-1087 1896-494X |