[Probiotics in allergic diseases of childhood].
The increase in allergic diseases in children in the industrialized countries is attributed, among things, to the "exaggerated hygiene" in early childhood typical of western lifestyle, since insufficient microbial exposure in this phase would appear to promote the development of allergies ("hygiene hypothesis"). Experimental data and initial results of clinical studies show that the immune system of infants can be stimulated by the endogenous intestinal flora. Probiotics, (apathogenic organisms present in human intestinal flora) have a very similar effect: Infants at risk of developing atopy, who, in the first 6 months of life received a special probiotic, contracted atopic dermatitis after two years only half as frequently as a control group of infants. Therapeutic effects were also observed in this clinical condition. For no other allergic manifestations have reports so far been published on the successful use of probiotics for prevention or treatment.
Hauer
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Klin. Abt. für Allgemeine Pädiatrie Univ.-Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Graz. almuthe.hauer@meduni-graz.at
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D015014:Yogurt