Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for allergic disease development

Abstract

For allergic diseases to develop, three components must be present: heredity, allergen contact and environmental factors. Allergic diseases are the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents. This paper aims to present the latest findings on prenatal and perinatal risk factors for the development of atopic disease. The analysis was conducted by researching papers from the MEDLINE and PubMed databases published before September 2021. It has been determined that a mother's immune system during pregnancy plays a key role in the development of the fetus and affects the overall well-being of her offspring later in life. Immune dysregulation during the gestation period is proven to be associated with adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Contrary to the long-established belief that amniotic fluid is a sterile medium, it is now known that the fetus receives its first dose of probiotics by swallowing amniotic fluid. In connection with that, the microbiota of the mother greatly affects the microbiome of the newborn. Premature birth, cesarean delivery, intrapartum administration of antibiotics and other drugs can all harm the formation of the baby's microbiome. Understanding the importance of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases as well as the old hygiene hypothesis concept in the light of microbial disorders, it is clear that all previously mentioned parameters can have a very important impact on the development of allergic diseases in children.