Risk Factors for the Development of Asthma and Food Allergies

Program Summary: Risk factors for the development of asthma and food allergies are multifactorial. They involve complex interactions among multiple environmental exposures, immune regulation, and genetic influences. Proposed risk factors for asthma and food allergies can begin in utero and vary with the age of asthma/food allergy onset, the timing of exposures, and the immune response. Understanding these factors can lead to possible modifications to lessen the clinical impact of these entities, lead to new treatment opportunities, or possibly even prevent the development of allergic diseases.