Food allergies in Australian children have risen 12-fold since 1995, a new study reports.

Over a twelve year period, food allergies in Australian children under the age of five have risen from 20 per cent of those with suspected allergies, to 58 per cent, a study suggests.

Based on data from an allergy-testing clinic in the Australian Capital Territory, the report noted that 47 percent of the 1489 children referred during the study period suffered a food allergy.

The most common reactions involved peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk and cashews.

In an analysis of the study, health journalist George Reynolds commented that the results to foods can in part be attributed to parents’ improved ability to spot allergic reactions – hinting at a rise in awareness levels. However, “the marked increase demonstrates a trend towards intolerance towards certain foods,” he said.

According to the Victorian Department of Health, around one in 20 children and one in 100 adults have food allergies. 60 per cent of allergies appear during the first year of life; one of the most common of these is to cow’s milk, which the majority of children grow out of before they reach school age. [2]

Those with a family history of allergic conditions have between a 20 and 40 per cent higher chance of developing an allergy. The more family members with such a condition, the higher the likelihood of someone suffering from an allergy themselves.

Allergy

Is an immune system response, a food intolerance is a ‘chemical’ reaction that some suffer after eating or drinking certain foods. With allergies, the immune system overreacts to a specific part of a food (typically a protein). Known as allergens, these proteins can exist in everything from foods, pollens and house dust, to animal hair and mould.  When in contact with these, the immune system responds to a harmless substance as if it were toxic.

Food intolerance

Is not an immune system response.  Common causes include dairy products, tomatoes, wine and histamines.

Suspect you have an allergy or an intolerance?

Try and pinpoint with the following suggestions:

• Keep a food diary and check for patterns
• Under the supervision of a health care practitioner, remove suspect foods or drinks from your diet for two weeks, then reintroduce, one substance at a time to check for possible reactions.
• Visit an allergy testing centre for skin prick or blood tests 

For further advice, consider seeking help from a naturopath, doctor and/or dietician.

 

Source: couriermail.com.au