Allergen Avoidance Versus Tolerance Induction

Abstract

Effective prevention, curative treatment, and accurate, rapid diagnosis of allergies are still major unmet needs according to the EAACI and EFA. As at least 60 million people are daily burdened by the consequences of their allergic disease(s), the need for more research is not only stressed by patient organizations, but also by health care professionals and the World Health Organization. Even though knowledge of the mechanisms underlying allergic responses is rapidly increasing, there are still a number of critical questions to be answered. In this chapter, a brief introduction on the use of biologicals, allergen-specific immunotherapy, and dietary compounds to actively reduce the allergic responses is provided with recommended literature for more detailed information about the individual topics. Furthermore, the current believes about the usefulness or risks of maternal allergen intake on the susceptibility of the infant are discussed. Finally, the debate on the suitability of partial or extensive hydrolyzates for specific target groups is summarized and is put into context with an opportunity to induce tolerance induction.