Could growing up on a muddy farm protect you from allergies?

24th July 2019

Could growing up on a muddy farm protect you from allergies?

The idea that exposure to more dirt and bacteria as an infant could improve your health isn’t new. Just last year, scientists discovered acute lymphoblastic leukemia results from a two-step process including a genetic mutation before birth, and limited exposure to infections in early childhood. Children who grew up in cleaner and more sterile environments during their first year and interacted less with other children were more likely to develop the disease.

Cleaner isn’t always better

This is a common area of research when it comes to allergies. After all, it’s an old wives’ tale that’s been around for years. A recent breakthrough from Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare suggested growing up on a farm, where there’s a wide variety of mucky dust, could significantly lower the child’s risk of developing asthma.

New research

In the study, the researchers analysed the microbes in the dust from living room floors in the homes of 197 children living in rural areas of Finland. Half lived on farms and the other half lived in suburban areas. The researchers took dust samples when the children were two months old and likely to be crawling on the floor. When the children reached six years old, the researchers tested how many of the children had developed asthma.

The results

There was a clear difference between the farm children – who came into contact with a huge variety of bacteria, including some from livestock – and the children from more urban areas with a more limited variety of bacteria. The results showed almost 20% of the non-farm home children developed asthma while just 9% of the children who grew up on a farm developed the allergy. The researchers found the same relationship when they replicated the study in 1,031 German children.

These studies contribute to a growing pile of research suggesting early childhood exposure can influence health in later childhood. Future research will probably focus on finding out why such exposure is so beneficial in early development. And, hopefully, it can lead to more effective allergy therapies. For now, we don’t recommend throwing your child in the mud. Let them grow up and monitor any potential allergies. If you see something that worries you, get in touch with your doctor.

London Allergy and Immunology Centre is a leader in providing the best allergy treatments available. We keep up to date with new research to make sure we can continue to transform lives. If you think you may have an allergy, or need more effective treatment, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with one of our consultants or call us on 0203 143 3449.

Why is there a rise in allergies and can you prevent them?

9th January 2019

Why is there a rise in allergies and can you prevent them?

Over the year, there have been several cases of severe allergy attacks, especially in young people. With so many stories in the news, you might think that allergies are on the rise. And maybe you’d be right. In the 20 years leading up to 2012, there was a 615% increase in hospital admissions for anaphylaxis in the UK.

With almost half of all British adults having at least one allergy, you can be forgiven for worrying about your or your child’s livelihood. But what’s causing this increase in allergies?

Hygiene

Several explanations might highlight why allergies are becoming more prominent. A top reason is excessive cleaning. Although cleanliness is critical, it could also explain why allergies are developing further.

A lack of exposure to dust and dirt can cause allergies, especially if suddenly exposed to large amounts of bacteria. Sometimes there is a thing as “too clean”. Exposure to allergens helps develop our immune system. It isn’t recommended that you stop washing your hands, dusting regularly, or cleaning surfaces, however, it might be effective to take shorter showers, spend more time outside, or even own a pet.

Preparation

Another reason for the increase in allergies could lie in the way we prepare certain foods. For example, research suggests that the way different countries cook peanuts can reflect the levels of peanut allergies. In China, peanuts are typically boiled or fried but elsewhere, in places like the US, they roast them. This might indicate that roasted peanuts are responsible for higher levels of allergies.

Prevention

Despite the increase in allergies, there are developments in the treatment and prevention of allergic conditions. In particular, peanut allergies have the potential to be avoided by slowly building up a tolerance. Out of a group of 500 4 to 17-year-olds from across the UK and US, studies show that almost all of the group were unable to tolerate even a tenth of a peanut dose. However, by taking daily doses of peanut over a year, two-thirds of the group were then able to tolerate at least two whole peanuts.

But the safest way of knowing is getting tested. Being allergy tested is critical so that you know whether or not there is any risk to your health. Peanut and other food allergies can be dangerous and consuming ingredients you are allergic to can result in anaphylaxis. Allergies can develop later in life so regular tests can be beneficial.

If you think you might be suffering from allergies, why not order one of our home testing kits today? Find out if you have cause for concern. Request an allergy test from us or visit our website.