Marco Waser

Allergic diseases and atopic sensitization in children related to farming and anthroposophic lifestyle – the PARSIFAL study

Background:  The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased rapidly in recent decades, particularly in children. For adequate prevention it is important not only to identify risk factors, but also possible protective factors. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization between farm children, children in anthroposophic families, and reference children, with the aim to identify factors that may protect against allergic disease.

Inverse association of farm milk consumption with asthma and allergy in rural and suburban populations across Europe

Background Dietary interventions as a means for atopy prevention attract great interest. Some studies in rural environments claimed an inverse association between consumption of farm‐produced dairy products and the prevalence of allergic diseases, but current evidence is controversial.

Bacterial and fungal agents in house dust and wheeze in children: the PARSIFAL study

Background Growing up on a farm and an anthroposophic lifestyle are associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood. This might be related to increased inhalatory exposure to microbial agents.

Bacterial and fungal components in house dust of farm children, Rudolf Steiner school children and reference children – the PARSIFAL Study

Background:  Growing up on a farm and an anthroposophic lifestyle are associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood. It has been suggested that the enhanced exposure to endotoxin is an important protective factor of farm environments. Little is known about exposure to other microbial components on farms and exposure in anthroposophic families.

Determinants of endotoxin levels in living environments of farmers' children and their peers from rural areas

Background Lower frequencies of asthma and hayfever have been observed in children with contact to livestock. At school age, the amount of endotoxin measured in the dust of childrens mattresses is inversely related to the occurrence of atopic asthma, hayfever and atopic sensitization both in children from farming and non‐farming households.

Exposure to pets, and the association with hay fever, asthma, and atopic sensitization in rural children

Background:  An increasing number of studies report pet exposure to be associated with lower risk of asthma and allergies. This ‘protective pet effect’ has been suggested to result from a modified T‐helper (Th)2‐cell response, or because of increased microbial load in homes where pets are kept. We examined the associations between pet contact and the occurrence of asthma and allergies in children of the rural Allergy and Endotoxin (ALEX) population, taking farm animal contact, endotoxin and cat allergen levels in mattress dust into account.

Nonlinear relations between house dust mite allergen levels and mite sensitization in farm and nonfarm children.

Background:  Low sensitization rates to common allergens have been observed in farm children, which might be due to high exposure to microbial agents. It is not known how microbial agents modify the association between specific allergen exposure and sensitization.

Allergic disease and atopic sensitization in children in relation to measles vaccination and measles infection.

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to investigate the role of measles vaccination and measles infection in the development of allergic disease and atopic sensitization. METHODS. A total of 14 893 children were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter Prevention of Allergy–Risk Factors for Sensitization in Children Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle study, conducted in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland). The children were between 5 and 13 years of age and represented farm children, Steiner-school children, and 2 reference groups. Children attending Steiner schools often have an anthroposophic (holistic) lifestyle in which some immunizations are avoided or postponed. Parental questionnaires provided information on exposure and lifestyle factors as well as symptoms and diagnoses in the children. A sample of the children was invited for additional tests, and 4049 children provided a blood sample for immunoglobulin E analyses. Only children with complete information on measles vaccination and infection were included in the analyses (84%). RESULTS. In the whole group of children, atopic sensitization was inversely associated with measles infection, and a similar tendency was seen for measles vaccination. To reduce risks of disease-related modification of exposure, children who reported symptoms of wheezing and/or eczema debuting during first year of life were excluded from some analyses. After this exclusion, inverse associations were observed between measles infection and “any allergic symptom” and “any diagnosis of allergy by a physician.” However, no associations were found between measles vaccination and allergic disease. CONCLUSION. Our data suggest that measles infection may protect against allergic disease in children.

Environmental determinants of atopic eczema phenotypes in relation to asthma and atopic sensitization

Background:  There is still uncertainty about the determinants of atopic eczema (AE). To explain the heterogeneity of the disease, different phenotypes of AE have been suggested.

Asthma and allergies: is the farming environment (still) protective in Poland? The GABRIEL Advanced Studies

Evidence exists that a farming environment in childhood may provide protection against atopic respiratory disease. In the GABRIEL project based in Poland and Alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we aimed to assess whether a farming environment in childhood is protective against allergic diseases in Poland and whether specific exposures explain any protective effect.