Adverse food reaction is not always an allergy

Posted on June 13, 2012 by bilrob

Adverse food reaction is not always an allergy

Many types of adverse food reactions are often confused with food allergies. Allergists consider a true food allergy to be an abnormal response of the immune system to food protein.

These abnormal responses are mediated by immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE-mediated) or by immune cells (non-IgE-mediated).

The IgE-mediated food allergies are the kind that may result in immediate hives and swelling or anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction with multiple symptoms. Common food allergies in children include allergies to egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat; however, children can develop an allergy to almost any food.

Symptoms develop typically within 30 minutes, but can occur up to two hours after ingestion, and may include hives, lip and/or eye swelling, mouth itching, throat discomfort, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and a drop in blood pressure, which may be lead to dizziness or fainting. These symptoms are the result of chemicals, such as histamine, which are released in the body when IgE binds to a particular food protein.

Non-IgE-mediated food allergies typically cause gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms may include repetitive vomiting, chronic diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss or difficulty swallowing. These gastrointestinal food allergies are often diagnosed either by history alone or with endoscopy by a gastroenterologist.

Food intolerance is a more accurate term when referring to adverse food reactions that do not involve the immune system and are typically not a result of food protein. For example, lactose intolerance is a metabolic disorder where the body does not have the enzyme called lactase to digest the sugar lactose present in cow’s milk. This condition results in bloating, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is diagnosed by history alone or with a breath test performed by a gastroenterologist. Treatment includes replacement of the enzyme lactase.

Other foods may have a pharmacologic effect due to certain chemicals. This includes sensitivities to chemicals in chocolate, tyramine, aspartame, MSG, nitrates/nitrites, alcohol and caffeine, which may trigger migraines, or symptoms such as fatigue or mood changes in susceptible individuals. These reactions are not life-threatening and there are no tests available to confirm sensitivity. A sensitivity is likely if symptoms disappear when the substance is avoided and reappear when the substance is ingested again.

Adverse food reaction may also be the result of a toxic effect, for example from mishandled or spoiled food. Gastrointestinal symptoms caused by food poisoning may appear similar to those seen in allergic reactions. However, food poisoning reactions often affect more than one individual and symptoms do not occur if the individual eats the food again.

Food allergies are best diagnosed by an allergist to avoid confusion with food intolerance using skin and blood testing. Treatment includes avoiding the trigger food and if IgE-mediated, treating accidental ingestions with antihistamines and injectable epinephrine. New therapies for IgE-mediated food allergy are currently in research.

Dr. Stephanie A. Leonard is a food allergy specialist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and an assistant professor of pediatric allergy and immunology at UC San Diego.

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How to spot and prevent food allergies in kids

Posted on June 11, 2012 by bilrob

How to spot and prevent food allergies in kids

One of the greatest pleasures of parenthood is marking your kids’ development through phases of their feeding. But moving on to solids can also pose a concern for parents worried about food allergies.

And while a recently published study may have found that city kids are more likely to have food allergies than kids who live in rural communities, shipping the whole family to live in the countryside because of a child’s allergies is hardly an option.

Here are some tips compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics, WebMD.com and babycenter.com on how to identify and prevent food allergies in kids.

-Start introducing new foods one at a time, so you can identify any adverse reactions. Wait about three to five days before adding a different item so you can gauge any symptoms of food allergies.

-Allergic reactions will appear quickly, within minutes to a few hours. Watch out for the following symptoms:

   -hives
   -flushed skin, rash
   -face, tongue or lip swelling
   -vomiting or diarrhea
   -coughing, wheezing
   -difficulty breathing
   -loss of consciousness

-But not all of the symptoms mean your child has a food allergy. Diarrhea or vomiting, for instance, could point to food poisoning, while skin irritation can be caused by acids in foods like orange juice or tomato products.

-The difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance is that while an allergy involves the immune system and can be fatal, an intolerance simply signals trouble digesting a particular food.

-The most common allergenic foods include:

    -cow milk
-eggs
    -peanuts
    -soy
    -wheat
    -nuts from trees (walnuts, pistachios, pecans, cashews)
    -fish (tuna, salmon, cod)
    -shellfish (shrimp, lobster)

-There is some evidence that early exposure to these foods could be beneficial and prevent the onset of allergies in kids. Some experts, however, still advise waiting until the child is older — anywhere from 10 months to the age of 3 — before introducing them to most common allergens like shellfish and peanuts.

-Infants younger than 12 months should not be given cow’s milk as the proteins can irritate the stomach.

-Get immediate, emergency help if the baby is having trouble breathing, or develops swelling or severe vomiting and diarrhea after eating.

-One of the best ways to prevent food allergies in babies is to breastfeed.

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Food allergies affect more city kids than rural ones

Posted on June 9, 2012 by bilrob

allergies (Credit:
CBS/iStockphoto)

Food allergies affect more city kids than rural ones

(CBS News) Food allergies are more common in kids who live in a city than those who live in more rural areas, according to new research.

Food allergies in kids more common than government said
Food allergy: 9 dangerous myths
Achoo! 12 worst cities for allergy sufferers

The new study is the first to map children’s food allergies by where they live in the United States, according to the researchers. They surveyed parents of nearly 38,500 kids younger than 18, asking for their zip codes and details on their child’s food allergy.

The researchers determined that in urban centers, almost 9.8 percent of children had food allergies, compared with 6.2 percent of children in rural communities. Specifically, city children were twice as likely to have peanut (2.8 percent compared to 1.3 percent) and shellfish allergies (2.4 percent compared to 0.8 percent) compared to their rural counterparts. Based on the survey, the states with the highest prevalence of food-allergic kids were Nevada, Florida, Georgia, Alaska, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

“We have found for the first time that higher population density corresponds with a greater likelihood of food allergies in children,” study author Dr. Ruchi Gupta, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. “This shows that environment has an impact on developing food allergies. Similar trends have been seen for related conditions like asthma. The big question is – what in the environment is triggering them?” A better understanding of environmental factors will help us with prevention efforts.”

The study is available online now, and will be published in the July issue of Clinical Pediatrics.

Regardless of location, food allergies were equally severe for the surveyed kids. Nearly 40 percent of food-allergic children surveyed had experienced a severe life-threatening reaction at some point.

Nationwide, about 5.9 million children under 18 have a food allergy, or one out of every 13 kids, Gupta said.

The first time a person with food allergy is exposed to the food, there are no symptoms. But the body has been now been primed, so when the person eats the food again, an allergic response will occur.

An allergic reaction usually takes place within a few minutes to several hours after exposure to the food allergen. The process of eating and digesting food and the location of immune cells involved in the allergic reaction process both affect the timing and location of the reaction, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Symptoms include itching or swelling in your mouth, GI symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, hives or eczema, trouble breathing and a drop in blood pressure.

People may also experience a severe reaction called anaphylaxis within seconds or hours of exposure that affects many different areas of the body. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

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Md. Public Schools To Keep Drug That Counters Food Allergies For Emergencies

Posted on May 30, 2012 by bilrob

Md. Public Schools To Keep Drug That Counters Food Allergies For Emergencies

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is calling attention to a Maryland bill just signed into law. Maryland public schools will now have emergency doses of potentially life-saving Epinephrine on hand for children with food allergies.

Political reporter Pat Warren has more on what this means for families.

Safety first. Four-year-old Hugh Ward has something in common with one in 13 children in the country, according to the Journal of Pediatrics– food allergies. They come on suddenly and 16 percent to 18 percent of those children have had a reaction in school.

“I’m allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, grapes and raw corn,” 8-year-old Rolando Rivera said.

The General Assembly has helped ease the minds of parents of school-age children by requiring Maryland public schools to keep emergency supplies of Epinephrine– the drug that counters allergic reactions– on hand.

“It protects the kids who will have their first reaction at school,” Shana Ward, a parent, said. “It’s great for the kids that are already diagnosed but it’s also really helpful for those kids as well.”

In addition to her son Hugh Ward, Shana Ward has a 6-year-old in kindergarten who also has food allergies.

“You want everyone to be prepared and be ready if there were to be a reaction,” she said.

Shana Ward co-founded a support group for families with allergies.

“Who can argue with wanting to protect kids and making sure that they’re safe, that all of the kids are safe at school? I mean, who could argue with that?” she said.

The added awareness of the preparation for food allergy reactions in public schools may have the added benefit of encouraging other child care facilities to put emergency supplies in place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an 18 percent increase of school-age children with food allergies in the 10 years between 1997 and 2007.

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Bringing awareness to food allergies

Posted on May 30, 2012 by bilrob

Bringing awareness to food allergies

One local mom is hoping to raise awareness about food allergies.

May is national Food Allergies Awareness Month and Michele Stubbs is talking about the importance of public awareness around this sometimes-deadly affliction. As with many allergy sufferers, Stubbs had no idea her daughter Sierra had a potentially fatal egg allergy until she had her first reaction.

“My daughter had her first anaphylactic reaction a day after her first birthday,” she said. “It was a beautiful August morning and we were having breakfast on the sun deck.”

Sierra was trying eggs for the first time and had just touched the egg white to her lips.

“She started to cry and rub her eyes,” Stubbs said. “Within minutes her face was so swollen I could barely recognize her.”

She called 911 and Sierra was rushed to the hospital. Stubbs said the allergist later told her they were lucky their daughter had not actually ingested the egg or the reaction could have been much worse.

The Stubbs family is not alone. According to statistics provided by Anaphylaxis Canada (www.anaphylaxis.ca), about 1.3 million Canadians, four per cent of the population, have food allergies and the incidence is highest among young children – close to six per cent of those under the age of three are affected by a food allergy.

The reactions can vary from moderate to severe and in the worst cases it can be fatal. There is no cure. Although some children grow out of a food allergy, many people spend their lives avoiding certain foods.

Avoidance of the allergen is key for someone, like Sierra, who suffers anaphylactic reactions. Treatment in the case of a reaction means a quick injection of epinephrine/ adrenaline from an EpiPen and then a call to 911 for a trip to the hospital.

Stubbs said people who work in the food industry should be more aware on the potential dangers of food allergies. She said when eating out with her daughter she always makes sure to mention Sierra’s allergy to ensure the food does not contain, or come into contact with, egg. Dealing with processed, store bought foods is particularly difficult.

“You have to read the label every single time. Nothing is guaranteed safe,” she said. Even if a product has been safely consumed in the past, Stubbs said, the company could have changed the recipe.

With her daughter now in Grade 2 at Beach Grove Elementary, Stubbs is working to ensure that any child with food allergies is safe from a reaction while at school. She joined the parent advisory council and is now the allergy awareness co-ordinator.

She is working to make sure that students, teachers and staff are aware of the allergies, what an anaphylactic reaction looks like, how to use an EpiPen and what to do in case of a reaction.

As well, when the school hosts events that involve food she ensures it is allergen free so that all students can safely enjoy the same treats.

Food Allergies with Bill & Sheila

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Texas School Food Allergy Guidelines Set to Make an Impact

Posted on May 26, 2012 by bilrob

Texas School Food Allergy Guidelines Set to Make an Impact

School food allergy guidelines in Texas were published today – the result of a dedicated effort by children, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to ensure that schools are prepared to care for kids with potentially life-threatening food allergies.

Last year, children from across Texas gathered on the steps of the capitol in Austin for a rally to call attention for the need for statewide food allergy management guidelines. Together with their parents, and supp (FAI), they reached their goal to help make schools safer for kids like them.

“We have so many kids with food allergies in Texas. Our schools need help in understanding the risks we face every day and how to better manage them. I was proud to be among the students who successfully advocated for this law,” said Madeleine Sides, age 14, who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.

The guidelines are the result of SB 27, a bill that was authored by Senator Judith Zaffirini and sponsored by Representative Dan Branch. “Schools should be safe havens for all children, including those with food allergies,” Zaffirini said. “These guidelines will help save lives and are a testament to the dedication of the children with food allergies and their parents who were among our most persuasive advocates for this important legislation.”

Public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools must adopt and administer policies for the care of students with food allergies at risk for anaphylaxis, based on the published guidelines, by August 1,2012.

The guidelines were developed by the Texas Department of State Health Services along with an ad-hoc committee of experts that included representatives from FAAN; FAI; the Texas School Nurses Organization; the Texas Pediatric Society; the Texas Medical Association; the Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society; school staff and school administrators.

Published research has shown that 1 in 13 children in the U.S. – roughly two in every classroom – has food allergies. Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room for treatment.

Mike Lade, a food allergy parent from Houston, Vice Chair of FAAN’s Board of Directors and a member of the ad-hoc committee noted, “The guidelines provide all Texas school districts with the knowledge they need to understand and manage food allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis in the school environment. Importantly, the guidelines address the steps that every Texas school can take to prevent reactions from occurring on school campuses, to recognize the symptoms of a reaction, to administer lifesaving epinephrine, and to enact emergency protocols when needed.”

Laurie Combe, school health issues chair for the Texas School Nurses Organization said, “The guidelines encourage collaboration among all stakeholders and provide a set of proven practices that will make the entire school staff more efficient and effective in keeping food-allergic students safe at school. All schools in Texas will benefit from the new guidelines.”

“Studies have shown that 16-18 percent of food allergy reactions happen in schools, and that children are at risk for having their first allergic reaction in school,” said Mary Jane Marchisotto, Executive Director, FAI. “We applaud Texas for taking a leadership role in establishing these guidelines.”

The Texas guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of food allergy and anaphylaxis, signs and symptoms of a reaction, treatment of anaphylaxis, how to develop and implement emergency care plans, training for school staff, and more. They also call for a focus on environmental controls in the school setting and provide guidance for school districts to consider obtaining non-student specific epinephrine as allowed by Texas law.

For more information about food allergy, visit www.foodallergy.org
and www.faiusa.org.

About FAAN

Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information, resources, and programs for food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts as many as 15 million Americans, including almost 6 million children. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. On May 9, 2012, FAAN announced its intent to merge with the other leading food allergy organization, the Food Allergy Initiative, pending state regulatory approval. To become a member or for more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.

About FAI

The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) is the world’s largest source of private funding for food allergy research. FAI’s goal is to fund research that seeks a cure; to improve diagnosis and treatment; to increase federal funding of food allergy research and to create safer environments through advocacy; and to raise awareness through education. Founded in 1998 by concerned parents and grandparents, FAI has committed nearly $77 million toward the fulfillment of its mission. FAI is headquartered in New York, with an office in the Chicago area and an active volunteer committee in the Northwest, and enjoys strong relationships with food allergy support groups and advocates nationwide.

A national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FAI is supported solely by donations from dedicated individuals, corporations, and foundations. For more information, please visit FAI at www.faiusa.org.

Food Allergies with Bill & Sheila

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Mom pens 'fairy tale' about kid's food allergies

Posted on May 26, 2012 by bilrob

Mom pens ‘fairy tale’ about kid’s food allergies

It’s Snow White and the seven food substitutions.

Queens native Letizia Barbetta recently published a children’s book about debilitating food allergies and how it impacts kids — a subject near and dear to the mom of three.

Barbetta wrote “Kylie’s Special Treat: A Food Allergy Fairy Tale,” as an homage to her 11-year-old daughter, Sofia, who is deathly allergic to milk.

“This is the book I would have loved to find when she was first diagnosed,” said Barbetta, 38.

The 30-page, illustration-heavy book follows a princess who tries to woo a dashing prince. What winds up uniting the two star-crossed lovers are special allergy-free cookies infused with fairy dust and a love of painting.

“I wanted to make the story show that she was not defined by her food allergies,” Barbetta said.

Barbetta, who works as a part-time consultant, said trying to design and publish the book was considerably tougher than penning the story.

“It’s been an investment for sure,” she said.

Barbetta found an illustrator on Craigslist and decided to self-publish the book.

“I really wanted it to look professional,” she said. “I did it for [Sofia].”

Her children served as a mini-focus group for the project, which took five years to bring to fruition.

“They helped me pick the illustrations. They were my consultants,” she said.

Barbetta’s husband, Anthony, was the first to discover how severe Sofia’s allergies were when he was feeding her as an infant.

COMMON FOOD ALLERGIES

“I knew something was wrong,” he said. “She swelled up and started projectile vomiting.”

After a battery of tests, they discovered Sofia had adverse reactions to milk, eggs and peanuts.

“It was a huge adjustment. We’re an Italian family — we use a lot of cheeses,” he said.

Little Sofia said that while it “sucks” that she can’t eat pizza, her allergies don’t control her life.

“I feel jealous a little bit,” she said. “Once you get used to it, it’s not that bad.”

The upshot to her ailments is that she has now been immortalized as princess Kylie.

“I like the book. It’s just like me,” she said. “I thought she copied it from a computer.”

To go along with the book, Barbetta set up a website, princesswithfoodallergies.com, which has recipes and tips for mothers adjusting to food allergies.

“This could be a great teaching tool,” Barbetta said.

[email protected]

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Boom in food allergies driving physicians nuts

Posted on May 26, 2012 by bilrob

Celery party treats, healthy snacks, finger food, children, kids, child, birthday.

Not so child-friendly … rise in new food allergies, including celery, alarms doctors. Photo: Natalie Boog

Boom in food allergies driving physicians nuts

IT WAS once a staple of the lunchbox but the humble peanut butter sandwich is increasingly being shunned from school lunches as the number of children, especially preschoolers, with allergies continues to rise significantly.

Allergy experts and immunologists cannot explain the rise in food allergies in children over the past 20 years.

They also fear it is no longer a problem confined to young children and pointed to a case of a 16-year-old boy from an inner-west high school who died last year after he shared food in the playground with a friend who had been cooking in a food technology class. It is understood the boy had a severe allergy to walnuts.

The director of the allergy unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Robert Loblay, said reasons for the increase in allergies remained largely unknown.

”Everybody who works in this field is floundering,” Dr Loblay said. ”It’s going up steeply with no end in sight and the reasons are not understood.”

The same trend was occurring in all developed nations, including in North America and Europe, Dr Loblay said.

”Some say it’s because of hygiene. That the immune system is not being kept busy so it turns its attention to harmless things,” Dr Loblay said. ”But this is an arm-waving theory which doesn’t explain the increased prevalence of nut allergies.”

Maria Said, the president of Anaphylaxis Australia, said the increase in allergies was not only putting huge pressure on childcare centres to change the way they operate but also primary and high schools.

”My biggest fear is that these children with peanut allergies are growing up,” Ms Said said.

Peanut allergies tend to be lifelong, while children with many other common allergies usually grow out of them.

Ms Said said allergy experts did not support total bans on food in preschools or primary schools but parents were often asked to refrain from giving their children peanut butter sandwiches.

Associate Professor Katie Allen, a paediatric gastroenterologist and allergist based at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne, was ”shocked” to find more than one in 10 children had a fairly substantial reaction to foods often linked to allergies in her recent study involving 5000 12-month-old infants.

”We’re seeing unusual things and being forced to deal with a new set of conditions,” Dr Allen said. ”Now we’re seeing allergies to foods such as celery, apples and hazelnuts.”

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Food allergies: On the rise and, for some, life-threatening

Posted on May 21, 2012 by bilrob

Food allergies: On the rise and, for some, life-threatening

You probably know someone with a food allergy. Studies have shown that the prevalence of food allergies among children increased by nearly 20 percent from 1997 to 2007.

Recent research shows food allergies — an emerging public health issue — affect about one in 13 children. Among adults, an estimated nine million Americans, or four percent of the population, have a food allergy. In Maine, that translates to more than 50,000 residents with a food allergy.

The most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.

What you may not know or understand is that food allergies are potentially life-threatening. Nearly 40 percent of children with food allergies have experienced severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction with rapid onset that may cause death. Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department, and every six minutes, the reaction is one of anaphylaxis.

Only epinephrine, available by prescription in the form of an auto-injector, can reverse the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

This makes it critical for all of us to educate ourselves and do our part to help protect those with food allergies. This week, the 15th annual observance of Food Allergy Awareness Week, a national awareness campaign started by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, is the perfect opportunity to learn more.

Food allergy reactions are more than just rashes or hives. Sadly, the headlines of recent months about deaths from food allergy reactions prove this point.

Food allergies are not dietary preferences or intolerances. A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein. Ingestion of the food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction. Reactions can range from mild (rashes, hives, itching) to severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, obstructive swelling).

There is no cure for food allergies. Avoidance and education are the keys to successfully managing them. Individuals with food allergies must be vigilant in avoiding harmful foods by taking extra precautions with grocery shopping, dining out, traveling and in schools.

As we work toward finding a cure, we can help prevent tragedies and reduce the number of food-allergic reactions by educating each other and becoming more aware of the daily challenges faced by families living with food allergies.

For more information about food allergies, visit foodallergy.org.

Contributed by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

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Food allergies: a real life issue

Posted on May 19, 2012 by bilrob

Food allergies: a real life issue

West Haven, Conn. (WTNH) – WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — What may appear harmless like an egg or cracker, could be deadly for someone with food allergies. It’s Food Allergy Awareness Week, and West Haven Schools are among those providing a safe environment in the classroom and lunchroom.

School systems like West Haven take a progressive, yet sensible approach when it comes to protecting students with food allergies.

“We don’t ban food here in terms of banning saying, we have a no peanut school or .. we would be banning everything and secondly, because it gives people a false sense of security when people think there’s nothing there then there’s nothing to be done,” said Donna Kosiorowski, Supervisor for School Health Services.

Instead, the focus at Pagels School and district wide is teaching kids how to live in an imperfect environment. The event was organized by Sen. Gayle Slossberg. At the core of it is a close relationship with families, the school nurse and health care providers. They make up an awareness team that draws up a blueprint for the child’s specific health needs.

Concerned mother Kim Parlee says, “prior to the school nurse, we met with the school nurse. Every year we meet with the incoming teacher, we discuss all the aspects of her day, we talk about the lunchroom, the snacks.”

Parlee’s daughter Kameryn is allergic to peanuts. She carries an epi-pen to reverse a life threatening reaction.

“Just like a weapon can take a child’s life, food can take my child’s life,” said Parlee. “It’s never just a burger or a cracker, she can’t eat it unless we read it.”

Eight foods account for about 90 percent of allergic reactions; milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

There are a number of contributing factors to the increasing number of people now allergic to food.

Food Allergy expert Chris Bartley says, “some are hereditary, but the hygiene factor always comes into play. We have an an environment that has lots of chemicals, lots of immunizations or cleaning, lots of things, the basic piece of that is maybe we’re taxing our immune system, but not taxing our immune system so that we are weakening it.”

Every school in West Haven has a school nurse that monitors the safety plan for kids with food allergies. With some children, they’ve contacted the local EMS with parental permission, to share the child’s health information, just in case there’s an emergency call for that student.

Mouse tests

Food allergies pose a serious and growing problem in the West. Many foods can lead to allergic reactions and this situation is further complicated by so-called cross-reactions, whereby an allergy to one particular food can trigger allergic reactions to another food. There are no treatments available for food allergies, but the establishment of two mouse models can be used to develop and test new forms of treatment, for example vaccines.

Around 4-8% of children and 1-4% of adults in the West suffer from food allergy. The most common causes of food allergy are peanuts, nuts, soya, milk, fish, shellfish, flour and eggs, but a total of over 170 different foods have been found to result in allergic reactions. In addition, there are the allergies that arise as a result of cross reactions to other types of food. The only form of treatment is to avoid all consumption of the food that the person is allergic to. Allergenic substances that are hidden in processed foods therefore pose a particular problem for people allergic to foods.

Nina E. Vinje’s doctoral research has led to the establishment of two mouse models for food allergy to the legumes lupin and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). These models have been used to test whether legumes such as soya, peanuts, Fenugreek and lupin can trigger allergic reactions in mice that are already allergic to lupin and Fenugreek respectively. It is important to establish good animal models for food allergies because the development of an allergic immune response depends on a complicated interaction between types of cells in several different organs. Vinje has made every effort to reduce the use of laboratory animals to a minimum during her project. For this reason, she used an advanced statistical method to develop the models in order to gain as much information as possible from the use of as few animals as possible.

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Adverse food reaction is not always an allergy

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Texas School Food Allergy Guidelines Set to Make an Impact

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Mom pens ‘fairy tale’ about kid’s food allergies

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Boom in food allergies driving physicians nuts

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Food allergies: On the rise and, for some, life-threatening

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Food allergies: a real life issue

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