Peanut allergy can be cured within 3 years: Scientists
London: British scientists claim to have
developed a new therapy that can permanently cure deadly
peanut allergies within three years, in a breakthrough that
may help treat millions of people suffering from various kinds
of allergies.
The researchers at Addenbrooke`s Hospital, Cambridge,
said they have `effectively cured` 21 children of the
dangerous condition through their new treatment -- which uses
tiny doses of peanut flour to build up a child`s resistance to
the food.
They were confident that the same therapy could be
used on other allergies -- such as milk and egg. They also
said they are starting an one-million-pound clinical trial on
more than 100 children.
One in children in Britain suffers from peanut allergy
and the numbers are rising fast. Reactions can range from mild
itching and rashes to dangerous swelling of the airways,
breathing problems and severe asthma.
On average seven children die from it each every year. It
is the most common serious allergic reaction, affecting around
450,000 people, the Daily Mail reported.
Dr Andrew Clark, who led the research, said the peanut
flour was `retraining` the children`s faulty immune systems.
He said: "The families say that it`s changed their lives.
That`s our real motivation - to try to develop that as a
clinical treatment that we could spread to the rest of the
country.
"And It`s not going to stop at peanuts. There`s no
scientific reason why it won`t work with other foods."
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 22, 2010, 00:00
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