Abstract
Increase of allergic conditions has occurred at the same pace with the
Great Accleration, which stands for the rapid growth rate of human
activities upon Earth from 1950s. Changes of environment and lifestyle
along with escalating urbanization, are acknowledged as the main
underlying causes. Secondary (tertiary) prevention for better disease
control has advanced considerably with innovations for oral
immunotherapy and effective treatment of inflammation with
corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors and biologic medications.
Patients are less disabled than before. However, primary prevention has
remained a dilemma. Factors predicting allergy and asthma risk have
proven complex: risk factors increase the risk while protective factors
counteract them. Interaction of human body with environmental
biodiversity with micro-organisms and biogenic compounds as well as the
central role of epigenetic adaptation in immune homeostasis have given
new insight. Allergic diseases are good indicators of the twisted
relation to environment. In various non-communicable diseases, the
protective mode of the immune system indicates low-grade inflammation
without apparent cause. Giving microbes, pro- and prebiotics, has shown
some promise in prevention and treatment. The real-world public health
programme in Finland (2008-2018) emphasized nature relatedness and
protective factors for immunological resilience, instead of avoidance.
The nationwide action mitigated the allergy burden, but in the lack of
controls, primary preventive effect remains to be proven. The first
results of controlled biodiversity interventions are promising. In the
fastly urbanizing world, new approaches are called for allergy
prevention, which also has a major cost saving potential.