Atopy is the risk of developing an antibody – IgE towards allergens and is genetically decided. This usually runs in families. Atopic March is the progression of clinical symptoms from infancy to childhood in the allergy path.
The allergic child usually begins with atopic dermatitis, can have associated food allergies as the child grows and new foods are introduced and then can move on, as the various mucosal surfaces mature, to asthma and allergic rhinitis.
The extent to which children progress along the atopic march varies, and the main aim in treating childhood allergies nowadays is first to diagnose allergies correctly.
Then, treat appropriately so that the child does not progress inevitably along the march to asthma or allergic rhinitis and remains well controlled. This halting of the atopic march will begin as early as infancy when the atopic dermatitis is treated and maintained well.
Atopic dermatitis often flares up due to underlying food allergies. These food allergens can enter through the damaged skin causing the body to be sensitized and eventually react when the child consumes these foods later.
Hence these need to be identified and control measures instituted so that the child’s body does not go on the developing other food and pollen allergies which trigger allergic rhinitis and asthma.
These also have similar clinical symptoms like cough, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, etc. Other allergies like latex allergy, insect venom, and drug allergy occur upon exposure to the offending allergen.
They can have cough symptoms with breathlessness like an asthma attack and can worsen to life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, prompt diagnosis, trigger identification and immediate management will abort the asthma attack in most cases.
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