[Current views on allergic diseases].

Allergic diseases are an increasing health problem in the industrialised and developed countries especially in children and young adult persons. They are considered diseases of modern civilisation. The reported cumulative prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood of 25-30% includes allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and dermatitis. The reasons for this increasing prevalence are unknown. The main risk factors are genetic predisposition, allergen exposure, environmental pollutants, decreased stimulation of immune system during the critical period of development and lifestyle. Allergic diseases must be treated as common health disorder. They can express themselves in any age groups and in many different organs. IgE antibody is the main connection between involved organs. Specific IgE is still being identified using the 100 years old skin testing method and quantitative immunoenzymatic method in serum. In spite of the permanent improvement of both methods, neither skin reactivity to allergens nor measurable specific IgE necessarily mean a clinically manifested disease. The interpretation of these findings is still in the clinician's domain. Allergic diseases rarely have a fatal outcome, but have a long duration. They need a complex treatment and are a substantial individual and public socio-economic burden. Studies of factors influencing the ontogeny and maturation of the immune system in the early human development as well as studies of interaction between environment and genetic predisposition will provide a new insight in the aetiology of allergic diseases. This rewiev presents curent views on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of allergic diseases.