Evolving immune system triggering more allergies

An increase in children’s food allergies is not just the result of hyperconscious parents but a result of the sanitary times we’re living in, doctors say.

Dr. Edward McLaughlin, an allergist with offices in DeLand and Ormond Beach, reports a “dramatic increase” in children’s food allergies among his cases. and both he and a University of Florida pediatric allergist believe it’s the result of how the human immune system has responded to the dearth of bacteria and infectious diseases compared to how it used to be.

“We live in such a hygienic society, our immune system is responding differently,” said McLaughlin, pointing to clean drinking water, bacterial wipes and immunizations as key developments in more widespread allergies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found food allergies have increased 18 percent even as recently as the period between 1997 and 2007, with milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat accounting for 90 percent of all the food allergies. In 2007, the CDC found 3.9 percent of all children younger than 18 had food or digestive allergies in the previous 12 months.

Dr. Shih-Wen Huang, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida, likened the body’s immune system to two arms. as one gets weaker from disuse — the one that fights bacterial invaders — the other has gotten stronger. the one getting stronger originally developed to fight parasites that mimic healthy cells’ function.

Lacking any parasites to fight, however, this stronger arm can be triggered into action by certain substances, such as peanuts, in a life-threatening way. the allergic person has a buildup of the allergic antibody, Immunoglobulin E, in the body. Higher IgE reflects the potential escalation of allergic symptoms.

“Few (food allergies) lead to severe problems,” Huang said. “But the peanut allergy is extremely dangerous in some cases. It is currently the leading food that often caused the most severe reaction of allergy called anaphylaxis nationwide.”

Huang said the rise in allergy cases has prompted changes in the way pregnant women are counseled about what to eat.

McLaughlin said his specialty is also revising advice given to parents of allergy-prone children about when to introduce certain foods. It used to be that allergy-triggering foods were withheld until the child reached 2 years old. but that’s changing.

“Now, earlier introduction actually reduces food allergies,” McLaughlin said.

“Nut-free” classrooms. Hand-washing and mouth-rinsing routines twice a day. a peanut-sniffing dog.

Carie Starkey joined parents picketing Edgewater Public School recently to protest some measures taken to protect a first-grader whose allergy to nuts is so severe she could die if not treated quickly for a reaction. Starkey and other parents say the procedures cut into class time and interfer with their children’s education.

Tracey Bailey kept her daughter — the girl with the severe nut allergy — home the day of the demonstration to shield her from the controversy. but she and her husband are just as concerned as the protesters about what’s happening at school, even though some of the pickets’ claims were based on what school officials now say was misinformation.

“We 100 percent, hands-down want to work with the parents to work this out. We want to do what is best for all kids at the school, not just our daughter, ” Bailey said.

Bailey, who declined to confirm her daughter’s first name for publication, said touching nuts or nut products irritates the girl’s skin. Smelling them can trigger an asthma attack. Eating them carries the danger of causing hives and breathing problems that could be deadly if not treated quickly, Bailey said.

To protect their daughter, the Baileys have posted a sign on the front door of their Edgewater home barring visitors who’ve had recent contact with nuts from entering. They’ve also made sure a plan is in place to keep her safe at school, as required by federal law and regulations.

“We have nothing against this little girl being at school, but we don’t want it to take away from our children’s education,” said Starkey, whose daughter is in the same class as Bailey’s girl.

Through signs and fliers, the protesters objected to a loss of class time for their children because of a requirement they wash their hands and faces and rinse their mouths before class and after lunch.

Other issues raised by the protesters concerned a ban on class snacks and holiday celebrations, and what they believed was a plan to use Clorox wipes to clean children’s hands and faces and preferential treatment for Bailey’s daughter in the school clinic.

“The truth is we were not aware of 98 percent of what they’re protesting,” Bailey said. “If these things are truly happening, we are just as upset about them as they are.”

School officials confirmed nuts and nut products are banned from the two classrooms where Bailey’s daughter receives daily instruction. Children who bring lunches from home must leave them on a cart outside the classroom for delivery to the cafeteria, Superintendent Margaret Smith said, but they can bring peanut butter sandwiches or other nut products.

Bailey’s daughter eats her home-packed lunch in a space off the classroom in the company of a teacher’s aide so she isn’t exposed to any nut products in the cafeteria.

Clorox wipes are used to clean desks at times, school district spokeswoman Nancy Wait said, but not children’s faces and hands.

Smith said the Edgewater first-grade teachers agreed as a group not to have classroom snacks because of the children’s early lunch time. They also decided to celebrate holidays with arts-and-crafts projects and other learning activities rather than food, she said, and not to invite parent volunteers into the classroom.

Smith said those decisions were prompted by a need to keep focused on instruction without interruptions and had nothing to do with Bailey’s daughter’s allergy. she said the order in which children are treated in the school clinic is decided by the school nurse based on each child’s condition at the time.

Starkey said the twice-a-day washing and rinsing routines take at least 20 minutes out of class time.

“What if a child is struggling and they’re losing the academic time, who’s going to take up the slack?” she asked.

Wait said Area Superintendent Annette Martinson will meet soon with the Edgewater school’s administrators to see if there’s a way to cut back on the time the washing routine takes.

Starkey hopes school officials will meet with parents as well to hear and address their concerns, and Bailey is willing to be part of that. the superintendent said information will be shared with parents as the review of the situation is completed.

The education director for the Virginia-based Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network sees that as a good sign.

“It’s definitely helpful when everyone can work together for the best interest of all our students at school,” Eleanor Garrow said in a telephone interview. “Education is the key, and there are so many people who aren’t educated on food allergies” and the serious — sometimes fatal — complications they can cause.

Meanwhile, school officials are waiting for results from a March 11 visit to the Edgewater school by a black Labrador retriever trained to sniff out peanut residue. at no cost to the school district, the Baileys arranged for the dog to inspect the school when no children were present to see if it could pinpoint anything that’s causing what appear to be allergic reactions that have sent their daughter to the school clinic several times.

The superintendent said the school was cleaned carefully after the dog left to ensure children with animal allergies won’t be affected when they return to classes Monday after Spring Break.

I have reallyyyyyy bad allergies and I was wonderin if those symptoms have to do with allergies? I have other allergy symptoms so I know it's probably allergies but maybe it has a little of something else mixed in it? I never had the itching around my lips thing before…

Sounds like allergies to me, see below:

Food Allergies
Symptoms of a food allergy usually occur within minutes after ingesting the food allergen, although some may not occur for several hours. the symptoms may be isolated only to areas around the mouth, lips and digestive tract, or they may involve other areas of the body. Foods that most commonly cause allergic reactions include milk, eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

Mild Symptoms:

Itching, tingling or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
Tightness in the throat
Difficulty swallowing or speaking
Nausea
Abdominal cramps and indigestion
Diarrhea and vomiting
Skin rashes
Congestion, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing
Stuffy, itchy, or runny nose