In recent years, the incidence of allergic diseases in children has increased, and preventive measures are urgently needed. A Swedish birth cohort study published in 2013 found that the transfer of oral bacteria from parent to offspring via pacifier cleansing with parental saliva during infancy stimulates the infant's immune system, leading to effective It suggested the possibility of leading to allergy prevention.However, few studies have examined school-age allergy development and its associations.

　This time, a large-scale epidemiological survey was conducted in Ishikawa and Tochigi prefectures on Japanese school-age children and their parents.We analyzed the relationship between saliva contact through the sharing of tableware during infancy and parental cleaning of pacifiers with saliva and the risk of developing eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis, and asthma in elementary and junior high school students.

　As a result, saliva contact by sharing tableware during infancy was significantly associated with a decreased risk of developing eczema during school age.Also, saliva contact via pacifier cleaning with parental saliva was significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing eczema and allergic rhinitis in school-age children.Furthermore, regarding school-aged asthma, we were able to speculate about the "possibility of reducing the risk of developing asthma," although there was no clear significant difference in contact with saliva via cleaning the pacifier with parental saliva.

　Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms that reduce the risk of developing these allergies and to use the findings to prevent the development of eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis, and asthma in children.

Paper information:[Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Global] Saliva contact during infancy and allergy development in school-age children