An optimal programme for the prevention of allergic disease in children involves two fundamental principles.
Firstly, it is important to identify and predict the high allergic risk newborn baby, since only babies who are hereditary at risk for the possible development of allergic disease need to go onto the allergy prevention programme.
Secondly, the prevention of the allergic process in these high risk babies is important. This prevention process must be started as early as possible, since once the baby is exposed to the harmful allergy-producing substances, the allergic process will already have begun, and is difficult to stop.
In order to identify the high allergic-risk newborn it is important to have information on the number of family members who have one or other allergic disease. This is because allergies run in families, and the probability of parents transmitting allergy to their newborns has been recognised. A family allergy score-system, based on the number of immediate family members who suffer, or who have suffered from one or other allergic condition, can be used. Only the baby’s immediate family members are assessed. In other words, the baby’s mother, father, brother and sisters.
- A. Two points are scored for each family member who has definite, medically confirmed allergic disease.
- B. One point is scored for each family member who has possible or suspected allergic disease buy which has not been medically confirmed.
- C. No points are scored for members with no allergic disease.
If the family allergy score is 0, no prevention is necessary. If the score is 1-3, a blood sample can be taken from the umbilical cord of the newly born baby and tested for the prevention programme should be started or not. Any baby with a score of 4 or more is strongly advised to follow the prevention programme.
Newborns with raised levels of cord blood IgE have an increased risk for the development of allergic disease.
The Allergy Prevention Programme
The principle of allergy prevention is to prevent the high-risk baby being exposed to highly allergenic foods and inhaled substances during the first year of life. This is when the infant is most vulnerable to develop an allergy. In this regard, the method used to feed the infant is extremely important. Wherever possible the mother should exclusively breast-feed until six months of age. Equally important, however, is the proviso that the breast-feeding mother herself should not eat or drink any allergy-producing foods, since these are often excreted in her breast-milk and find their way to the baby via this months of age, particularly those solids that are allergy-producing. Common allergy-producing foods include the following:
- A. Dairy products
- B. Eggs
- C. Vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, garlic, onions and legumes
- D. Fruits such as oranges, strawberries and apples
- E. Nuts
- F. Various cereals such as wheat, rye, barley, oats and maize
- G. Fish products
- H. Beef can also be allergy-producing in some infants.
It is important that cigarette smoking be avoided in the home since the smoke can indirectly affect the baby and cause allergy.
The environment should be controlled by avoiding furry animals and household pets in the home. House-dust should be controlled
rigidly and the house-dust mite should be eradicated. Moulds should be controlled both indoors and outdoors.
Methods in which these aspects of the environment can be controlled can be made available to you from your family
doctor or paediatrician.
Alternatively, a book called “Understanding Allergy Prevention – Guidelines for Pregnancy and the First Year” by Dr M Haus,
has been written to detail the principles and practice of allergy prevention.
Copyright: Allergy Society of South Africa.
Written by Dr Matt Haus
Endorsed by ALLSA.
This information sheet is obtainable from:
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ALLSA P.O. Box 88 Observatory, 7935 Cape Town, R.S.A. |
 Suricate Background: Elephant |