A Synopsis of the Synopses, 2016 to 2017.

Abstract

This Synopsis Book reports on advances and key observations that will impact the care of children with allergic and immunologic diseases now and in the near future. Reviewers have selected articles that provide clinical pearls and insights that are applicable for daily practice as well as studies that challenge our current practice and provide data that may lead to new approaches for diagnosis and treatment. The prevalence of allergic diseases has significantly increased in recent decades, and there is a desire to identify modifiable risk factors for developing allergic disease. Researchers in several studies have thus explored the influence of microbial exposures in early life on the risk of allergic sensitization and disease. Researchers from New Zealand reported that thumb-sucking and nail-biting behaviors in early childhood were associated with a decreased risk of atopic sensitization. Researchers in additional studies investigated the effects of environmental exposures to air pollution and tobacco smoke on the development of allergic disorders. These and other studies summarized in this synopsis demonstrate the complex interplay between environment and atopy and suggest that multiple factors work together to affect disease development. Several highlighted studies focus on anaphylaxis and the continued need for education on preparedness and management. To further guide clinicians in the …