Paediatric gastroenterologist and Allergist Prof Katie Allen from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute is leading a major research study into food allergies -the first of its kind in the world. The study aims to understand how to prevent food allergy, how to prevent food allergic children from having adverse events and ultimately how to prevent progression of allergic disease later in life.
Prof Allen’s research has found several reasons as to why Australia has the highest reported incidence of food allergy in the world. These include: what food infants eat in the first year of life, their exposure to microbes in the environment and vitamin D deficiency. “What is exciting about these factors is that they are all modifiable and to do with the modern lifestyle. If proven, they may be able to reverse the current food allergy epidemic”, says Prof Allen.
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia President Maria Said believes Australia was not prepared for, nor is keeping up with, the current prevalence of food allergies: “There is a shortage of allergy resources, including allergy specialists, across the country which means individuals at risk lack timely access to diagnosis. This puts people already at risk of anaphylaxis at an even greater risk because people need to be shown how to manage food allergy in the real world.”
Read the full media release: www.foodallergyaware.com.au
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