Sugar intake during pregnancy is associated with allergy and allergic asthma in children

 "High maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of allergy and allergic asthma in the offspring, according to an early study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) involving almost 9,000 mother-child pairs."



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New UK Coins Increase Nickel Skin Allergy Risk 4 Fold

In a bid to save 10 million pounds a year the British Treasury is replacing copper-nickel five and ten pence coins with new nickel-plated steel versions. However, while no UK health assessment has taken place, scientists in Sweden have analyzed the allergy risk after the Swedish state bank announced it will reduce traces of nickel in Swedish coinage.

The assessment, published in Contact Dermatitis reveals that the UK public's exposure to nickel allergic reactions will increase four fold.

Pesticides In Tap Water Responsible For Food Allergy Increase

Pesticides and tap water may be responsible for the increase in food allergies, which now affect 15 million people in the U.S. Medical News Today

Bacterial protein in house dust spurs asthma according to NIH study, October 15, 2012 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

A bacterial protein in common house dust may worsen allergic responses to indoor allergens, according to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health and Duke University. The finding is the first to document the presence of the protein flagellin in house dust, bolstering the link between allergic asthma and the environment

Geographic Variability of Childhood Food Allergy in the United States

The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of childhood food allergy in the United States. Methods. A randomized survey was administered electronically from June 2009 to February 2010 to adults in US households with at least 1 child younger than 18 years. Data were analyzed as weighted proportions to estimate prevalence and severity of food allergy by geographic location. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to estimate the association between geographic location and food allergy. Results. Data were analyzed for 38 465 children. Increasing population density corresponded with increasing prevalence, from 6.2% in rural areas (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.6-6.8) to 9.8% in urban centers (95% CI = 8.6-11.0). Odds of food allergy were graded, with odds in urban versus rural areas highest (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.5-2.0), followed by metropolitan versus rural areas (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2-1.5), and so on. Significance remained after adjusting for race/ethnicity, gender, age, household income, and latitude. Conclusions. An association between urban/rural status and food allergy prevalence was observed.

Antibacterials in personal-care products linked to allergy risk in children

(Medical Xpress) -- Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.The investigators say their findings are also consistent with the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which has recently gained traction as one possible explanation behind the growing rates of food and environmental allergies in the developed world.

Defective carnitine metabolism may play role in autism

The deletion of part of a gene that plays a role in the synthesis of carnitine -- an amino acid derivative that helps the body use fat for energy -- may play a role in milder forms of autism, said a group of researchers led by those at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital.

Hookworms And Allergies - Doctor Infects Himself For Experiment

Ancylostoma caninum, a type of hookworm, attached to the intestinal mucosa. Source:CDC's Public Health Image Library Image #5205 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the first experiment of its kind to test the suggestion that hookworm infection can reduce some allergic responses, a UK doctor who specializes in medical entomology, infected himself with the parasite and then swallowed a pill camera to film the effect on his intestines.

Although the infection gave him some pain, Logan said for the first time in years, he was able to eat bread without feeling ill.

At the end of the 60-day experiment, Logan removed his "guests" with the help of the anti-worming drug albendazole.

Majority of children affected by allergy-related diseases

A majority of children have one or more allergy-related diseases, including eczema, asthma, and rhinitis, according to research published in the April issue of Allergy.