New research may have uncovered ways of protecting children from allergies and asthma later in life.
With Victoria sometimes termed the "allergy capital of the world" the findings being discussed in Melbourne could mark a big step towards a vaccine to prevent and treat allergies.
Researchers from around the world say they are getting closer to treating children affected by food allergies and asthma and to preventing others from ever being affected.
From 1997 to 2011 alone, the overall rate increased by about 50 per cent.
But now, Jiri Hrdy of Charles University in the Czech Republic says, rather than just trying to reverse allergies later in life, they can be prevented altogether.
