In the city children are allergic

Urban children are more often victims of food allergies than those living in the countryside. This is the conclusion, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Transfer the baby in his country house or cottage, if you will, that he did not face food allergies . Scientists have found that living in densely populated urban children are twice as likely to suffer from allergies to peanuts or shellfish, than their peers in the country. These allergies can develop due to the contact of children with polluted air, according to experts.

On the other hand, living in rural areas children able to develop immunity against bacteria prevailing in nature. Almost 10% of urban children have some form food allergies   compared with less than 6% of babies born in areas with small populations.

"For the first time scientists were able to identify a clear link between population density and a higher probability of the development of food allergies in children, - said study author professor of pediatrics Ruchi Gupta. - This shows that the environment has a direct impact on the formation of such disorders. We know that the same relationship exists between the residence and the frequency of asthma. "

In the study, researchers examined the health status of 38,465 children under age 18 living in different localities. Almost 40% of them have already demonstrated a serious, sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction to any food. But allergic to peanuts had only 1, 3% of young people in rural areas to 2, 8% of citizens. Less than 1% of the country children have allergies to shellfish to 2, 4% of the city.

Healthy Child

Go back to the main page