Allergy prevention
and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologistKathrin Rothfischer studied microbiology and genetics in Regensburg after an excursion into German studies. Presenting complex issues in an easily understandable way was her passion even then. That is why she turned this passion into a profession after graduating: After various positions in the medical specialist publishing house and in the public press, she finally found her journalistic home at
More about the expertsMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
People with an allergy have overzealous immune systems. It not only reacts to pathogens such as viruses or bacteria, but also to actually harmless substances such as pollen, house dust, animal hair or components of food. Medicines, chemicals and metals can also cause allergic reactions.
The first reaction to an allergenic substance (allergen) is stored in the immune system. If you come into contact with the same allergen again, the same reactions occur over and over again. These can become increasingly severe over time. If left untreated, such an allergy can also lead to chronic symptoms such as bronchial asthma.
It is therefore advisable to prevent an allergy as much as possible - preferably in childhood. Because the predisposition to allergies is inheritable. This means that if a father or mother has an allergic disease (such as hay fever, asthma or neurodermatitis), the child has an increased risk of becoming allergic as well. This risk is even higher if both parents are allergic to something - especially if it is also the same type of allergic disease (e.g. hay fever). Children who have siblings with an allergy also belong to the risk group (increased risk of allergies).
Primary prevention
Doctors understand the term primary prevention in general to mean all measures that help prevent a disease from developing in the first place. This includes, for example, eliminating or at least minimizing risk factors for a disease. In the case of allergies, the following measures, among others, are recommended for primary prevention:
- No nicotine: Active and passive smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as after childbirth, increases the risk of a child developing an allergy. You should therefore ensure a smoke-free environment for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children.
- Fish: The consumption of fish during pregnancy and breastfeeding and as complementary food for children can reduce their risk of allergies, as studies show. Therefore, mother and child should eat fish at least once a week, preferably low-pollutant species such as rainbow trout, salmon, mackerel or sardine.
- Breastfeeding: Infants should be fully breastfed for at least four months before gradually introducing complementary foods.
- Healthy body weight: Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of asthma (and many other health risks). Therefore, make sure you and your child have a healthy body weight.
- No excessive hygiene: Too much hygiene in childhood evidently promotes the development of allergies - the hygiene hypothesis assumes that the child's immune system needs microbes and dirt to mature. This is supported by the fact that children who grow up on a farm are less prone to allergic diseases.
- No mold: Make sure that mold does not grow indoors (especially bedrooms). Above all, you should ventilate regularly to avoid excessive humidity in the rooms.
- As few indoor air pollutants as possible: Indoor air pollutants can primarily increase the risk of asthma. Formaldehyde, for example, is dangerous and is found in some furniture, floor coverings, etc. and can be released through outgassing. That is why you should refrain from painting and renovating your home shortly before the birth of a child.
- Beware of car exhaust: nitrogen oxides and small particles from traffic emissions can increase the risk of asthma, among other things. Therefore, children (and adults) should be exposed to such emissions as little as possible (e.g. if possible not playing or living on busy streets).
By the way: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is not necessary to avoid frequent allergy triggers in your diet (such as cow's milk or peanuts) - the allergy risk of the child cannot be influenced.
Secondary prevention
The recommendations for secondary prevention are aimed at people with an increased risk of allergies who are not yet ill, as well as at people who are already sensitized and who have early symptoms.
For example, babies with an increased risk of allergies should receive hydrolysed baby food (hypoallergenic food, HA food) in the first four months of life if they are not breastfed or not sufficiently breastfed. However, this should not be based on soy. In addition, it is not advisable for children at risk to grow up with a cat as a pet (dogs, on the other hand, do not increase the risk of allergies).
If there is a predisposition or early signs of a house dust mite allergy, the apartment should be furnished in such a way that it accommodates as few mites and mite droppings as possible. This means, for example, the (largely) renouncement of dust catchers such as open bookshelves, carpets, lots of pillows, upholstered furniture and stuffed animals. In addition, carpets should be vacuumed several times a week (preferably with a device with a special fine dust filter) and smooth floors should be wiped with a damp cloth once or twice a week.
Special skin care is important for atopic dermatitis patients. This includes, for example, the regular (daily) use of a suitable care product (such as lotion or skin oil).
For some allergies, specific immunotherapy (desensitization) can be considered. The immune system is gradually used to the allergy trigger (allergen) so that it reacts less sensitively to it over time. Desensitization is offered, for example, for pollen allergies, house dust mite allergies and bee or wasp venom allergies.
Tertiary prevention
Tertiary prevention in allergic diseases aims to prevent, limit or compensate for an aggravation and possible consequences of the disease. For example, patients with allergic asthma can learn how to best deal with their illness in training courses. Some also benefit from climatic therapy (e.g. a spa stay at the sea, in the middle and high mountains). Sometimes inpatient rehabilitation for tertiary allergy prevention is also useful.
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