Effects of infant allergen/immunogen exposure on long-term health outcomes

The continuing increase in atopic diseases over the past 30years is carrying an immense individual and societal cost and burden. Research investigating specific atopic diseases but also the broader context in which these diseases develop and their implications on health is being conducted worldwide. As the onset of atopic diseases is often seen in early infancy with implications for health long into adulthood, specific focus has been on modifiable environmental factors. Allergen/immunogen exposure in humans starts in utero and continues postnatally. Nutrition accounts for a significant segment of exposure which also has undergone extensive changes and modification throughout human history and across cultures. Other environmental exposures exerting epigenetic effects over and in addition to genetic predisposition have been described and are being studied. Stark differences are being noted between prevalence of atopic diseases in the so-called westernized countries and other parts of the world. Investigation of contributing factors to allow for primary prevention and develop targeted interventions to halt the progression of atopic diseases is ongoing.