World Allergy Week is held each year in April to raise awareness of allergic diseases and disorders, and to advocate for effective training in treatment and prevention. This event is initiative of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) and
According to pediatrician Dr Farhat Jhaan, allergies in western countries have doubled in the last 25 years, with some estimates that approximately 40% of children have some allergic sensitivity these days. The most common allergic conditions in children are food allergies, eczema and hayfever. Allergy symptoms are different for every child. There are some vaccinations available to fight against some allergies; parents should talk to their GP about it.
girl scratch the itch with hand , Concept with Healthcare And Medicine. Source: iStockphoto
What is allergy precisely, why does it occur?
An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreact to it. The symptoms that result from the allergic reaction can vary amongst kids and so does the allergens. The element that causes an allergic reaction is an allergen. Common allergens are dust mites, pollens (seasonal allergens) foods( this is a big one) like peanuts, cows milk, wheat, soy, eggs, cucumber, banana, furry pets, insects bites, fungus in dam weather and moulds on furniture on toys. A child’s immune system assumes any element or irritant to be harmful and produces antibodies to fight against this antigen or allergens. The most common symptoms arising due to allergic reaction are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, hives, eczema, hay fever, asthma. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, sometimes life-threatening one like “anaphylaxis" seen especially kids with peanut allergy.
Source: Supplied by Sanjay Upadhyay
Why are allergens on the rise amongst the kids and What can be done to prevent them?
Public health consultant and nutritionist Reinaa Shukla shares some of the reasons for why allergens are on the rise amongst the kids, especially more so in the developed countries. As per Ms Shukla, The underdeveloped nations have fewer incidences which support and reinforce the 'hygiene hypothesis.' As per the hygiene hypothesis, most children are not exposed to the irritants and probable allergens in early age and are brought up in highly clean and sterile environment. As per one research, kids in Finland had more allergies than kids in Pakistan shows that the living conditions might be playing a significant role in developing immunity in kids as it might teach the body to differentiate between the harmful and harmless irritants. The immune system has a memory and sooner the exposure the less severe the reaction in future to the nuisance. Increasing use of adulterants and additives in the foods could be a trigger too.
If we go by us the traditional Indian ways, pregnant women in their third trimester are asked to have various food. As already known the fetus gets the antibodies from the mother and exposure to many foods at this time gives nutrition plus exposure (to probable future allergens) to a fetus. After the birth also the mother is advised to have a variety of foods and by doing so, the lactating mother can pass on the information/ antibodies and educate the immune system of the newborn with her milk thus the baby is exposed to various foods indirectly. It could be one of the reasons for kids having fewer allergies in underdeveloped or developing countries where the mothers usually breastfeed, and the environment is not as sterile.
Considering the situation and the exposure to various environmental toxins and food modification and adulteration these days, the best way would be to expose the child to as many as possible irritants in an early age in a controlled and measured way. A recent study in 2015 in London showed that if you introduce peanut products to infants early-like in the first year of their life, they have a high probability of not developing a peanut allergy.
For now, the Indian way seems to be right. Hygiene hypothesis seems relevant too until we have some more research providing new hypothesis, increasing the immunity of kids by giving ginger, honey, lemon, garlic, Gilroy, and turmeric in their daily diets and letting them play in the most natural environment will be the best way to combat allergies.
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