Allergies are a significant health and socio-economic problem. In addition to drug treatment, genetic and environmental factors, prevention plays a decisive role.
Both primary prevention and secondary prevention are essential (see Prevention).
The German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAI) developed an "evidence-based" guideline for this purpose (see Table 1).
Fish oil consumption = intervention strategy for the prevention of allergies: In a larger study, postnatal fish oil consumption in young children was examined for the development of sensitisation using risk models (Clausen et al 2018). It was found that the incidence of sensitisation was significantly lower in the fish oil group. This statement also tended to apply to food allergies.
Prevention measures |
Family history: Secondary prevention |
No family history: primary prevention |
Exclusively breastfeeding for at least 4 months |
yes (if not possible, then hypoallergenic food, extensively hydrolysed) |
yes |
Avoidance of potent food allergens in maternal diets during lactation (effect on atopic eczema possible) only justifiable after weighing the risks of malnutrition |
yes |
no |
No supplementary food before the 4th month of life |
yes |
yes |
No general diet for allergy prevention |
yes |
yes |
No purchase of fur bearing animals |
yes |
yes |
Avoidance of cat keeping |
yes |
no |
Reduction of house dust mite allergen exposure |
yes |
no |
Avoidance of a mould promoting climate |
yes |
yes |
Avoidance of active and passive smoke exposure |
yes |
yes |
Vaccination according to STIKO recommendations |
yes |
yes |
| Avoidance of Caesarean section | yes | yes |