What's new in pediatric allergology in 2010? Part 1: Pathophysiology, genetics, epidemiology, (early) diagnosis and prevention (a review of the 2010 international literature)

Epidemiological studies are more and more frequently long-term prospective studies including larger and larger numbers of children. In our opinion, the most important findings in 2010 are: (a) lifestyle of parents, including that of mothers during pregnancy, affects expression of single or associated genes of the immune response, and influences the risk of atopy in children; (b) several recent studies strongly suggest that materno-fetal transfer of IgE does exist; (c) prolonged breastfeeding may be associated with an increased risk of atopy. This may result from a deficient tolerance induction consequent to delayed introduction of solid foods, and from the fact that more atopy-prone than non atopy-prone children are subjected to prolonged breastfeeding; (d) relationships between early infections, antibiotic and paracetamol treatments, and vaccines, and atopic diseases remain controversial. However, most authors suggest that, if they exist, those relations are not relations of cause and effect; (e) finally, latex avoidance in children with spina bifida not only prevents latex sensitization and allergy, but also prevents sensitization to other allergens (foods and common aeroallergens) and allergic diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.