Risk factors for the prevalence and development of allergic diseases

Allergic diseases such as food allergy, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis are prototypical examples of diseases in which pathogenesis is a complex interaction of genetic/epigenetic and environmental factors.Epigenetic mechanisms are known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders, especially through mediating the effects of environmental factors, known risk modifiers.Environmental factors are not only risk factors, but play an important role in the development and exacerbation of allergic diseases.Direct or indirect effects of environmental factors on epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression favor the development of allergic diseases.Exposure to indoor factors, such as house dust mites or exposure to tobacco smoke, can significantly increase the occurrence of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, as well as outdoor factors, such as pollutants, micro and nanoplastic particles, which can affect allergenicity in the so-called naive allergens, but also the functionality of the epithelial barrier and the immune response modifiers.Climate change and global warming have significant effects on increasing the growth of allergenic species, increasing the concentration of allergenic pollens, and the duration of the pollination season.In addition, viruses and other pathogens are also recognized as risk factors for the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases.Numerous modifiers of the microbiome, and factors that affect barrier functionality, such as various nutrients, are also recognized as risk factors for the development of allergic diseases.In this review article, we discuss risk factors for the occurrence and development of allergic diseases in children.