Allergic diseases in children may have a common cause. Tests

Allergic diseases affect millions of children worldwide, and the incidence of allergic diseases is constantly increasing. Scientists have studied four different allergic diseases, trying to find a possible cause of their occurrence in young children. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. This is one of the first such studies. The researchers plan to use his findings to develop a therapy for an imbalance in the gut microflora, which may be the basis of allergic diseases. As a consequence, it will also be possible to prevent their development in children in the future.

At the heart of the most common allergic diseases

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Children’s Hospital of British Columbia conducted a study on the prevalence of the four most common allergic diseases in children. It concerned:

• atopic dermatitis,

• asthma,

• hay fever

• food allergy.

Scientists compared their development with the characteristics of the intestinal microbiome. And although each of these diseases is characterized by different symptoms, it turns out that the basis of their occurrence may be common. The researchers found that this is due to the composition of the intestinal microflora. “These are different diagnoses, each with their own list of symptoms, so most researchers treat them individually,” said Dr. Charis Petersen, co-author of the paper. However, she added that after looking at what’s going on at the cellular level, they do have a lot in common. More research will be needed, but current knowledge allows scientists to better understand how the infant gut microbiome may undergo changes that predict and partly explain the future development of childhood allergies.

The researchers analyzed data from 1,115 children. They were followed from birth to 5 years of age. Of this group, 523 children never had allergy symptoms. In turn, the doctor diagnosed one or more allergic disorders in 592 children. The children’s stool samples were also tested, on the basis of which the scientists assessed their intestinal microbiome. They were collected when the children were first 3 months old, and later - 1 year old.

The development of allergies and disorders of the intestinal microflora.

The researchers, after analyzing the samples, noticed an association between diagnosed allergic diseases in children and microbiome characteristics that indicate an imbalanced gut microflora. The results show that four allergic conditions are consistently associated with specific microbiome changes and exposure in early childhood. This was probably due to dysfunction of the intestinal mucosa and an increase in the inflammatory response in the intestine.

“Normally, our body can tolerate the millions of bacteria that live in our gut because they provide so many benefits to our health. We tolerate them, among other things, by maintaining a strong barrier between them and our immune cells and limiting the inflammatory signals that stimulate these cells to action,” said Courtney Hoskinson, graduate student and first author of the paper. The researcher also added that disruption of these mechanisms in children precedes the development of allergies.

What forms the intestinal microflora of young children?

Many factors can influence the formation of the intestinal microflora of young children. These include:

• diet,

• delivery type

• antibiotics used,

• place of residence (whether city or village).

The microbiome is formed at an early age, immediately after birth, but undergoes many changes as we grow older. “Our data show that the use of antibiotics in the first year of life increases the likelihood of developing allergic diseases in the future, and breastfeeding for the first six months is protective. This was a universal observation for all of the allergic diseases we studied,” explains Dr. Stuart Turvey, professor of pediatrics and one of the lead authors of the study.