Allergic Disease Epidemiology and Environmental Factors
Summary
Allergic diseases, including asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, have shown a steady rise in prevalence worldwide over the past half-century. This trend reflects the complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and a diverse array of environmental determinants. Urbanisation, air pollution, climate change and alterations in microbial exposure during critical windows of immune development contribute to shifting patterns of sensitisation. Early-life influences such as mode of delivery, feeding practices and household pet or farm exposures shape the microbiota and modulate immune maturation, often tipping the balance between tolerance and hypersensitivity. Parallel epidemiological evidence points to protective effects of rural upbringing, sibling contact and specific microbial products in preventing immune dysregulation. Emerging research on epigenetic mechanisms further reveals how prenatal and postnatal exposures leave lasting ‘marks’ on immune gene expression, thereby influencing allergic risk across the life course. A global perspective underscores the need for integrated surveillance of environmental trends, alongside targeted interventions that harness beneficial exposures to curb the allergy epidemic.
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Allergic Disease Epidemiology and Environmental Factors publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in allergic disease epidemiology and environmental factors across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Atopy: Genetic predisposition to produce IgE antibodies in response to common environmental allergens.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE): A class of antibody central to allergic sensitisation and mediator release from mast cells and basophils.
Th2 cell: A subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes that orchestrates type 2 immune responses and drives eosinophilic inflammation in allergic disease.
Microbiota: The community of commensal and environmental microorganisms inhabiting the human body, which plays a key role in immune system training.
References
- Does having siblings really protect against childhood atopic diseases? A total population and within-family analysis. European Journal of Epidemiology (2024).
- Harnessing the Farm Effect: Microbial Products for the Treatment and Prevention of Asthma Throughout Life. Immunological Reviews (2025).
- The Urban-Rural Gradient In Asthma: A Population-Based Study in Northern Europe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2015).
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