Evaluation of selected aspects of the hygiene hypothesis and their effect on the incidence of allergy

• Authors: Edyta Krzych-Fałta , Oksana Wojas , Konrad Furmańczyk , Diana Dziewa-Dawidczyk , Barbara Piekarska , Bolesław Samoliński , Adam Sybilski

Abstracts

EN

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

Keywords

EN

asthma; allergy; allergic rhinitis; hygiene hypothesis; European Community Respiratory Health Survey II; International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 69-83

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Edyta Krzych-Fałta

• Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Basic Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences)

author

Oksana Wojas

• Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences)

author

Konrad Furmańczyk

• Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (Institute of Information Technology, Department of Applied Mathematics)

author

Diana Dziewa-Dawidczyk

• Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (Institute of Information Technology, Department of Applied Mathematics)

author

Barbara Piekarska

• Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences)

author

Bolesław Samoliński

• Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences)

author

Adam Sybilski

• Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland (2nd Clinic Pediatric)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01880

Biblioteka Nauki

2203019