There has long been evidence that city dwelling children are more prone to asthma and environmental allergies. However, new evidence from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland indicates that children in the inner city also have higher rates of food allergies.
According to the study, 10 percent of children, ages 5 and under, who resided in the city were allergic to peanuts, milk or eggs. Nationally, 3 percent of adults and 6 percent of children under 5 have some sort of food allergy. While scientists are still unsure of the exact cause for inner city allergies, some believe that it is related to what they call the "hygiene hypothesis," which is the idea that children who are raised in clean environs can develop sensitive immune systems that make them susceptible to allergies.
"Our findings are a wake-up call, signaling an urgent need to unravel the causes, contributors and mechanisms that drive the high prevalence of food allergies among an already vulnerable group known for its high risk of asthma and environmental allergies," says Robert Wood, director of pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins and senior investigator on the study.
Wood is also the researcher who showed that urban infants who grow up with pets or rodent dander in the home tend to be less prone to asthma and allergies.
While it is still unclear why children in inner city settings suffer more acutely from food and environmental allergies, one thing is for certain – as parents it is critical that you do what you can to supply your child with as much allergy prevention as possible. If you are in need of hypoallergenic bedding, advice or product guides, visit Allergy Be Gone today.
