Kids Allergies On The Rise Around the Globe
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 04.18.07
We’re all aware that people with allergies to nuts must be particularly careful around them because they can prove to trigger a fatal reaction. In fact, the kids in my school have a designated “Peanut Free” table just to keep them from any possible danger. But did you know that the number of young children with peanut allergies literally doubled between 1997 and 2002, according to a survey conducted in 2003? In fact, there are about 2.2 million U.S. school-age children who have food allergies, and roughly 1 out of 17 children under the age of 3 has a food allergy as well according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. And it’s not just in the U.S. either, as children's allergies across the board from asthma and allergic skin diseases to hay fever and allergies to eggs, wheat and dairy products have increased worldwide according to a survey released in August 2006 that looked at more than 700,000 children in 56 countries since 1991. Now that’s comprehensive! And while the reasons for the troubling increase are unclear for the moment, there are a number of ideas about the ways in which humans are impacting our environment that could be to blame...
One points to the fact that the life in the First World has become so incredibly clean and antiseptic that kids immune systems aren’t being challenged sufficiently to develop resistance, while another points out that the antibiotics so frequently used to combat childhood infections may be to blame by hindering the development of the friendly bacteria found in the intestinal tract that aid the immune system in warding off allergens. Another idea points to an increase in environmental pollutants, changes in diet, and food-processing techniques that could also be playing a role; while yet another reason could be simply that doctors are diagnosing more allergies now than in previous generations. Whatever the true cause is we’re not likely to find out in a hurry, but the overriding truth is that of the reasons given above, the only one that does not have some connection to the way in which humans are impacting our environment in some way is the last… And that may be food for thought as we make decisions that have implications for our own children, and for those around the world. Via::CNN
I think this is about on par with the "shocking increase in autism". Not a question of an increase in the problem, just a higher survival rate, and much higher diagnosis rate.
Here are links to a few studies suggesting that soy in the diet -- including soy-based baby formula -- may be largely responsible for the severe food allergies affecting so many kids today:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10321562
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12936923
Margarine and other refined oil products have also been implicated, but mostly in relation to asthma, seasonal allergies, and the severity of reactions to airborne pollutants:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11350306
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11208657
There are a great many studies linking abnormal dietary components -- such as refined oils -- to respiratory disorders, skin diseases and other health problems not normally associated with food. Unfortunately, most doctors don’t read these studies, or don’t understand them, and thus nothing ever changes.
Really, we don't know what cause it!
Many anti-smoker will tell you in 5 seconds that a smoker can trigger asthma and allergic reaction in Children. Some even will tell you that this is true outside and that you should never smoke at less than 9 meters from a child.
Good, what about the millions of tail pipe that produce more nasty stuff in a week that a smoker in it life time. What about coal plant generator. May be, cement factory that burn tires for heat, VOC in paint, preservative in food, etc…
I am personally allergic to stuff like “Unburned diesel”, “many chemicals” and dust. Yes, I have a few hay fever every years…but these generate very mild symptom compare to my reaction to Diesel and to “air cleaner” such as Oust or Lysol.
Great post and I fully agree that there are so many ways that we, as a species, have changed how we interact with the world around us, it is no wonder that so many people find themselves "allergic to... the world."
In response to the comment that the rise in food allergies is due to a higher diagnosis rate rather than an increasing problem... have you ever witnessed anaphylaxis? It's not like you can mistake it for "consumption."
I tought English in France for a year -- and out of my 100+ students, not ONE had a nut allergy. My thought was all the peanutbutter we eat, but I never even thought about the environment...hmm...
Environmental, for sure, but it's in diagnosis, too.
Example, my toddler is allergic to tree fruit (apples, peaches, etc), nuts, eggs, wheat and dairy. Crazy, right? She breaks out in hives from contact. We're sensitive to this now, there's awareness and alternatives.
However, when my husband and I were kids, we'd frequently complain to respective parents "This apple makes my tongue itch!" or "Why is my mouth tingling from this pear?" Only to get back a "Deal! It's fruit so it must be good for you" sort of response. It was a cultural insensitivity, the world wasn't open to the idea that anything grown wasn't necessarily wholesome/good for everyone.