Psychosomatic Aspects of Allergy in Childhood

A Contribution to the Epidemiology of Chronic Bronchitis

“…Dyspnoea and X-ray signs of advanced emphysema are even more frequent with past infections. Past lung infections are obviously related, at least in men of this age group, to decreased functional pulmonary reserve, eventually to pulmonary insufficiency (29). Obviously, functional pulmonary reserve may be reduced as a result of manifest pulmonary infections, or on the other hand it may be related to chronic bronchial mucus hypersecretion, which has a close correlation with cigarette smoking.…”

Inhalant Allergy in Children

“…Some allergists have instituted prophylactic hyposensitization with important specific pollens; e.g., ragweed and grasses. Such prophylactic pollen treatment has been highly suc cessful in obviating or reducing to a minimum seasonal hay fever symptoms in these children (26). The importance of this becomes evident when we note that at least 60 % of all children with seasonal hay fever develop asthma which may rapidly become perennial.…”

“…Awareness of the fact that allergic illness in children has a basic immunological etiology (25) will direct the physician toward his most promising therapeutic approach -a thorough and careful allergic diagnostic survey, followed by comprehensive corrective and prophylactic measures. Concurrently, however, he must take steps, insofar as it is possible, to stabilize the child's emotional climate and familial patterns -never forgetting that the allergic patient "reacts as a total bio-dynamic unit to his illness and life situations" (31).…”