Middle-class children are twice as likely to have peanut allergy as those from poorer families, a study has found.

Researchers believe GPs may see more children with allergies from better-off families, although poorer children may be protected in some way from developing them.

Some experts also think that an excessively clean lifestyle linked to rising levels of affluence is driving the rise in allergies and asthma because it fails to wake up the immune system.

Health hazard: Around 25,000 people in England have an allergy to peanuts – and the figure is rising

Previous generations were exposed to more dirt and bugs which helped their immune systems develop resistance.

In the past 20 years the number of British children with peanut allergy is believed to have doubled, but the latest study by Scottish and Dutch researchers gives the most accurate estimates yet.

It shows that around 25,000 people in England are affected, with males aged up to 20 most at risk.

Peanut allergy commonly causes breathing problems, but occasionally results in fatal anaphylactic shock.

Researchers at Edinburgh and Maastricht universities studied records from more than 400 GP practices in England between 2001 and 2005 to determine the number of patients with an allergy diagnosis.

Health snack: but some children can have severe reactions if they are allergic to peanuts (File photo)

The rate per 1,000 patients was 0.70 in the most affluent group, compared with 0.36 in the poorest, says a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr Colin Simpson, co-author of the Department of Health-funded study, said children from more affluent families were most likely to be taken to the doctor for symptoms.

‘but these figures show they have a true allergy, these are not “worried well” children,’ he said.

‘It could be that children from less well-off families may actually be less likely to have peanut allergy.’

Until recently parents were told to avoid exposing their children to peanuts until they were three to reduce allergy, but this official advice – which has been withdrawn – was blamed by some experts for the rise of ‘nut hysteria’.

Indeed, some doctors believe exposure to peanuts early in life could save children from developing an allergy by priming their immune system.

Lynne Regent, chief executive of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, the national charity that supports those with severe allergies, said: ‘In our experience, people from affluent backgrounds are most likely to go to their GP with an allergy problem.

‘if this is so, it’s vital that crucial messages reach a much wider audience. Peanut allergy can be life-threatening, but it can be well managed so long as people affected are properly diagnosed and given instruction in how to avoid foods that will harm them.’

I don't wheeze but sometimes I feel like I can't breathe, especially after exercise. I have mucus in my throat that won't go away, its been a few years. What are some asthma symptoms?

Having difficulty breathing OUT. I also suffer from exercise asthma. even carrying a few pieces of furniture puts me in a huff and a puff.
Peace.

chronic mucus,chest pain,breathing problems even after very mild exercise,problems exhaling,id get checked out if i were you.

Researchers analysed asthma sufferer’s sputum and found that up to two thirds of the samples ?contained a common garden mould, aspergillus fumigatus, which is usually found in soil and compost heaps

Many asthmatics have a mould growing in their lungs that could explain why they suffer such devastating breathing problems. The good news is that the ?solution could be as ?simple as giving these patients anti-fungal antibiotics.

Asthma is a common condition where breathing tubes go into a spasm, making it difficult to breathe — around 5.4 ?million Britons have it. as many as a fifth of those with severe asthma suffer from permanent narrowing of the ?breathing tubes within the lungs.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergens, including pet hairs, pollen and mould. now, a new study led by University of Leicester scientists at Glenfield Hospital has shown that mould might play another, significant role.

The researchers analysed patients’ ?sputum — matter expelled from the respiratory tract such as phlegm — and found that up to two thirds of the samples ?contained a common garden mould, aspergillus fumigatus, which is usually found in soil and compost heaps, though can also grow in homes.

They also found that people ?allergic to this mould had more permanently narrowed airways. The theory is that the mould produces chemicals which trigger inflammation in the tiny tubes of the lungs; this leads to gradual scarring and damage to the ?breathing tubes.

Asthma is usually ?controlled with inhaled bronchodilators — these relax the muscle covering the airways in the lungs — and courses of inhaled steroids which damp down the inflammation. But the new research suggests anti?biotics that tackle fungal infections could also prove useful.

‘Treating individuals in whom the mould is detected with anti-fungals may prevent fixed narrowing of the airways,’ says Professor Andy ?Wardlaw, who led the study.

‘this is very exciting for people with asthma and could potentially help people with other chronic lung conditions, including cystic fibrosis, where similar processes are going on.’

Leanne Metcalf, Director of Research for Asthma UK, says: ‘We are encouraged by the results of this unique study demonstrating that this specific type of mould, found in the lungs of people with severe asthma, is linked to asthma symptoms and reduced lung function.

‘These findings are a step in the right direction in establishing if people with severe asthma should be routinely tested for the ?presence of fungal spores in their lungs and if anti-fungal agents could be ?helpful as a treatment.’

Some patients are already convinced that anti-fungals can help. Lili Yeadon, 63, a part-time research assistant from Loughborough, had severe asthma for six years — attacks left her coughing, short of breath and ?unable to walk far. she was referred to Professor Wardlaw, who ?diagnosed allergic bronchial ?pulmonary aspergillosis — where the mould grows in the lungs.

As part of a clinical trial, she was given anti-fungal treatment. Lili says: ‘I don’t have any symptoms at the moment — no coughing, I can breathe much more easily, and I can walk a lot faster. It’s simply incredible.’

As well as being a trigger for asthma, mould can also cause health problems for people ?without allergies.

The most common problems are sinusitis, bronchitis and other ?respiratory conditions such as pneumonia.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergens, including pet hairs, pollen and mould. now, a new study has shown that mould might play another, significant role

‘Mould is an opportunistic fungus, and grows aggressively in the body, stopping the organs working properly — so it can be lethal,’ says Malcolm Richardson, professor of medical mycology (the study of mould) at the University of Manchester.

If you have a mouldy carpet, for example, mould spores are released into the atmosphere, that you can then inhale.

Normally, the immune system detects the spores and helps you to get rid of them by coughing or sneezing.

But some people with poorer immune systems are unable to reject the spores, so they germinate in their lung tissue, causing inflammation.

Symptoms of a mould problem include coughing, constant ?tiredness, eye and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation or nausea.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are being prescribed singing ?lessons to try and improve their symptoms.

COPD is a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It affects around 900,000 people in the UK — although it’s thought a further two million people have yet to be diagnosed. Smoking is the biggest risk factor.

One of the main symptoms is breathlessness while performing everyday activities such as climbing stairs or even getting dressed.

Previous research has shown that singing can combat this by helping patients control their breathing and posture.

Many patients also said the classes alleviated feelings of depression and anxiety, which is common sufferers with COPD.

In a new trial at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, one group of patients will undergo twice-weekly vocal coaching for eight weeks. another group will take part in a once-weekly film club.

At the end of the trial the relative health and level of physical activity managed by the two groups will be compared.

I feel tight in my chest and throat but the doctor swears that its allergies, anyone else have these symptoms?

OH my yes honey.
I have a cat I love and am very allergic to cats.
I can't breath and have bad asthma from it.
I did not know for most of my life that my trouble breathing is from allergies but I know it now after getting tested by an allergist.
I remember the four years of my life tht I did not have a pet I never had any bronchitis or asthma at all. Those were the only times I never had breathing problems.
I take a claritin every day and it helps just a little.
I cough a lot. I am told it is asthma. It is miserable. It gets a lot worse in the winter.
Yes, it is allergies.
Take a daily allergy pill such as claritin and see if it helps.

Me. 4 months out of the year, every year, plus runny nose and sneezing. It sucks. However, I've been taking an allergy shot for it yearly too. I think it's helping as my symptoms are getting better. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Yup; post nasal drip. Causes the throat to be scratchy…coughing.

Sure. Dust effects me this way and probably other allergens, too.

you need to balance the endocrine system.
get a hair analysis done

If I eat certain foods, my throat will swell up, sometimes to the point where I cannot swallow. when I was younger my mother took me to an allergist who helped discover which foods to avoid. It turned out that I can not eat rice. Since we were looking for obvious things like peanuts, we would never have figured out the rice allergy without the help of a food allergist.

If you consider a trip to an allergist, it is helpful to first keep a diary of your diet and environmental conditions such as trees and pets.

YES! these are allergic reaction symptoms…and they could be the first signs of anaphylaxis, the potentially life-threatening extreme kind of allergy. you HAVE to see an allergy specialist immediately to make sure that you can pinpoint what you're allergic to and become informed about what you must avoid and how you must treat the symptoms should they recur. Feeling tight in your chest AND throat are not things to ignore..they could signal larynx aodema, a part of anaphylaxis-and really, you don't want to see where that goes. Simple cortisone inhalers might be all you need, or anti-histamine pills, or something more serious, like an epipen in the future. please, please..see a doctor.

OMG ME TOO !!! I cant even tell you how bad of allergies i have its AWFUL, if you get the SudaCare shower soothers and you put in the bottom of the shower and let it dissolve slowly and just take in the vapors its GREAT it really helps me when I feel the tight feeling it breaks it up. and it is a form of allergy's I went to a specialist