[Possibilities of the primary and secondary prophylaxis in treatment of childhood asthma].

INTRODUCTION The natural course of asthma is unpredictable and appears to be unaffected by any therapeutic strategy. Under such circumstances, the attention must be focused on the opportunities for prevention of a disease which is chronic, life long and incurable, even thought it can be very effectively controlled. During the past decades, a lot of a studies have been performed and started, in which relatively large numbers of children were included and followed prospectively to determine the incidence of risk factors for asthma in childhood. All these studies have contributed significant new information. The levels of prevention must be considered in all patients. There are two main separate components to the strategy. PRIMARY PROPHYLAXIS Primary prophylaxis (time course of allergic sensitization, timing of exposure to allergens, influence of tobacco smoke, maternal health and allergen exposure) is introduced before there is any evidence of sensitization to factors which might have caused the disease. There is increasing evidence that allergic sensitization is a very common precursor to the development of asthma. SECONDARY PROPHYLAXIS Secondary prophylaxis (allergen avoidance, hygiene hypothesis) is important after primary sensitization to allergen has occurred, but before there is any evidence of asthma. CONCLUSION In this article the authors reviewed all results of studies about primary and secondary prophylaxis of asthma and its influence on the course of disease.