Significant disparities in allergy prevalence and microbiota between the young people in Finnish and Russian Karelia

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Significant disparities in allergy prevalence and microbiota between the young people in Finnish and Russian Karelia

Summary

Background

Atopic allergy has been more common among schoolchildren in Finland, as compared to Russian Karelia. These adjacent regions show one of the most contrasting socio‐economical differences in the world.

Objective

We explored changes in allergy from school age to young adulthood from 2003 to 2010/2012 in these two areas. The skin and nasal microbiota were also compared.