BACKGROUND INFORMATION The prevalence of allergic diseases has been continuously increasing, reaching a prevalence of up to 30% in industrialized countries. In Switzerland, about 2 million people are affected by IgE-mediated allergies as reported by the Swiss Center for Allergy, Skin and Asthma and
Project leader: Leif Bjarte Rolfsjord, M.D., section leader, Paediatric Department Sykehuset Innlandet HF Elverum-Hamar; Ragnhild Halvorsen, M.D. Ph.D., Voksentoppen, Paediatric Clinic, Rikshospitalet; Leiv Sandvik, Ph.D. professor, research leader statistics, Competence Centre for Clinical