Why are Allergies Increasing?

With 40% of children in the UK having been diagnosed with one or more allergic conditions and with this figure rising annually, why is it that the growth has been so marked? It would seem that the rise in allergic sufferers could stem from a number of contributing factors.

Genetics

Timing

Environment

Protection

There are however, factors that might serve to reduce the risks in some way. It would seem that the delaying of the introduction of solid foods into a child's diet until six months old can provide a protective effect against the on set of allergies.

It is also becoming increasingly apparent that frequent exposure to minor viral and bacterial infections in early life can also reduce the likelihood of the development of atopic and allergic disease. This is because early life infections encourage the production of interferon gamma which is found in higher levels among non allergic people and is therefore believed to help in the process of reducing risk.