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Allergies and
the Immune System
A survey I read recently
stated that approximately one in 200
Australian infants have a peanut allergy,
an affliction they will (in many cases)
keep into adulthood. Peanut allergy is
increasing so fast that nearly all Child
care centres in NSW have at least one
allergic child. This is somewhat
worrying, considering the vast array of
nut-based cuisine readily available in
Australia. Unfortunately, few of these
centres are equipped to deal with a
potentially fatal allergic reaction to
peanuts, called anaphylaxis.
During this most severe form of allergic
reaction, blood vessels can relax and
airways constrict, leading to
unconsciousness and, eventually, if
untreated, death. Annually, around 4000
Australians have anaphylactic reactions
to things such as nuts, latex, bee or
wasp stings and, occasionally, injected
medicinal drugs.
School trip's, family outings and parties
are becoming a minefield for those
affected by food allergies. But it is not
just nut allergy that's on the increase.
More than 2,000,000 Australians (over 10
per cent of the population) have asthma.
Based on current data, it is estimated
that this figure doubles every 15 years.
Asthma Australia says we have one of the
highest rates of asthma. Although asthma
death rates have been in decline since
1989, in the year 2001 deaths still
totaled a worrying 422, 10 per cent of
whom were aged under 35. Also, its
estimated that asthma's annual cost to
the community is over $700 million.
There are many theories as to asthma's
cause. Before the fall of the Berlin
Wall, asthma's prevalence in East Germany
where industrial pollution was way beyond
western limits was relatively low, says
some researchers. Twelve years on, East
Germanys industrial pollution has
declined, yet asthma rates have soared to
rival those in West Germany. So, is
westernised lifestyle to blame?
Australians on the eastern seaboard,
where dust mites and pet hair are more
prevalent and people spend more time
indoors, suffer worse rates of asthma
compared to those in the outback. Experts
do believe climate and lifestyle may play
their part in triggering asthma.
William Hesketh Lever revolutionised
personal hygiene in 1895 by marketing the
world's first antiseptic soap. The common
hypothesis on allergy says that since
1900, there has been a change in our
immune systems, far more rapidly than
during previous centuries. Its thought
that with improvements in public health
and personal hygiene, the immune system
is nowadays failing to reach its full
potential in early life.
The theory is that if an infant has only
limited exposure to everyday germs and
allergens, its immune system is not
exercised. Thus the inexperienced immune
system may then take offense at natural
allergens like dust mites and animal
hair, which are common in the atmosphere
but essentially not harmful to humans.
Therefore, keeping a family pet,
especially a cat, can help to develop a
child's immune system by giving it a
workout.
The average Australian spends more than
90 per cent of their life indoors, often
in air-conditioning. Many households are
filled with antibacterial cleaning
products, giving the body little chance
to develop any real immunity against
common allergens. We attack our kitchens,
clothes and carpets with bleaches,
solvents and steam till they shine, yet
asthma and other allergies continue
spreading.
Excessive cleanliness is probably
unnecessary. Asthmatics are more likely
to suffer from allergies to latex,
leaving them with an itchy rash on the
skin, called urticaria or hives. This has
become particularly prevalent among
medical and dental workers, since AIDS
awareness prompted a tenfold increase in
the market for medical latex gloves.
Another common skin allergy is nickel
allergy. At least 10 per cent of women
suffer this, generally from wearing cheap
jewelry with a high nickel content. With
the rise in body piercing, this is
becoming more frequent.
Researchers say that while there are few,
if any, allergic skin reactions to
synthetic fabrics such as nylon and
rayon, these may simply aggravate people
with underlying skin conditions by
promoting sweating. Cotton effectively
breathes more than synthetic materials,
thereby lessening the skins urge to
sweat; its also usually a better fabric
for people with eczema, dermatitis,
psoriasis or simply sensitive skin.
European scientists recently recommended
that a particular type of preservative be
removed from sunscreens and moisturisers
after tests revealed it was responsible
for a number of allergic reactions. The
preservative, methyldibromo
glutarnotrile, is commonly used in
toiletries and cosmetics and can cause
painful itching, rashes, swelling and
allergic reactions among eczema
sufferers. This chemical preservative is
also present in some household cleaning
products and its estimated that up to
three per cent of people are allergic to
it.
Chemicals such as:
Bleach;
cocamide (surfactant or cleaner);
ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA,
a binding agent);
formaldehyde (a preservative);
organic solvents, sodium laureth / laurel
sulfate (SLSs, foaming agents);
sorbolene (base cream containing
petrochemicals, used in cosmetics); and
stearic acid (fat added to cosmetics)
should be avoided if possible.
Researchers believe that simply
abstaining from using these sorts of
chemicals may help to stem the rise of
allergy.
How else can we avoid allergic reactions?
The over-use of too many domestic
chemicals such as those above, but
particularly those from spray cans, is
one cause for an increase in allergies.
He believes childhood immune systems in
general do get good exercise, especially
through infections picked up in the
schoolroom, but its manmade chemicals
that can overburden the immune system
without actually exercising it or giving
it the experiences it needs.
Using hypoallergenic products, where
feasible, may help to avoid the allergic
reaction. Hypoallergenic products are
generally regarded as being less likely
to cause allergic reactions than other
products, by causing a lesser chemical
insult to our skin, throat, lungs and
eyes.
Almost everything we regularly use is
available in hypoallergenic form these
days. Some simple lifestyle alterations
or a rethink on what's in your kitchen
and bathroom cupboards may just make the
difference you need to be allergy-free.
And you CAN get a cat.
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