Nut allergies have doubled over the last decade, with more than one in a hundred of us affected, according o the British Nutrition Foundation. Peanuts account for three-quearters of cases. More people in the UK are sensitised than elsewhere, and this may be because in other countries babies are often exposed to traces [...]

The immune system triggers the release of histamine, which can cause widespread swelling of the tissues.  In extreme cases it can cause anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction that causes swelling throughout the body, including the tissues of the lips and throat.  This can result in difficulty in breathing or swallowing, ending in collapse and [...]

Bacteria found in yoghurts are being used to lower the risk of asthma in children.  A probiotic supplement containing lactobacillus is being given to babies under six months who will be monitored for three years to assess its effects on the development of asthma. It’s thought that early exposure to the bacteria boosts the immune system. The [...]

‘Tis the season to be wheezing. A new study warns that bringing a real Christmas tree into a home can multiply the mould-spore count by five times the normal level - increasing allergy symptoms. “It’s one of the many triggers that people with allergies and asthma have to put up with at Christmas time,” said Lilly Byrtus, [...]

Allergic reactions usually develop in early childhood. Typically, children first become allergic to foods such as milk and egg. In the second [...]

Researchers have found that babies raised on organic dairy products are a third less likely to suffer allergies in their first two years than those fed conventional food.  The Dutch study followed 2,500 pregnant women and their infants for two years after birth.  Some of the children were on strict diets with more than 90 [...]

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