An epidemic of potentially life-threatening reactions is affecting a record one in 10 Australian babies, a Perth expert has warned.
Princess Margaret Hospital paediatric allergist and immunologist Susan Prescott said the recent rate, the highest ever reported in the world, included a 500 per cent increase in serious anaphylactic food allergies in pre-schoolers in the past 10 years.
She said it had led to long outpatient clinic waiting lists of babies and children with severe allergies that were rare in their parents.
Professor Prescott has written a book, The Allergy Epidemic, in which she details theories about the unprecedented rise in allergic diseases and gives advice to parents about how to manage them.
She said modern lifestyle factors were creating inflammation in the immune system and in turn more allergies and immune diseases.
People were more preoccupied with hygiene, spending more time indoors and away from sunlight, and eating less fruit, vegetable and fibre.
"We don't have all the answers, because food allergies have been the poor cousin in research, but it seems you can be allergic to almost anything these days," she said.
"The main culprits are egg, cow's milk, peanuts and seafood but it's really whatever food the immune system decides to react to and we know that the immune system is very vulnerable to modern life compared to 50 years ago."
Despite the once-held view that children outgrew food allergies, many were still affected as teenagers and adults, causing an alarming epidemic that was getting worse with each generation.
"We're seeing more and more kids not growing out of them," Professor Prescott said.
Charlotte Crainie, 2, was diagnosed with a cashew allergy a year ago, after she became violently ill after eating a dip.
Her mother Aimee said the family now had to be cautious when eating out.
Princess Margaret Hospital paediatric allergist and immunologist Susan Prescott said the recent rate, the highest ever reported in the world, included a 500 per cent increase in serious anaphylactic food allergies in pre-schoolers in the past 10 years.
She said it had led to long outpatient clinic waiting lists of babies and children with severe allergies that were rare in their parents.
Professor Prescott has written a book, The Allergy Epidemic, in which she details theories about the unprecedented rise in allergic diseases and gives advice to parents about how to manage them.
She said modern lifestyle factors were creating inflammation in the immune system and in turn more allergies and immune diseases.
People were more preoccupied with hygiene, spending more time indoors and away from sunlight, and eating less fruit, vegetable and fibre.
"We don't have all the answers, because food allergies have been the poor cousin in research, but it seems you can be allergic to almost anything these days," she said.
"The main culprits are egg, cow's milk, peanuts and seafood but it's really whatever food the immune system decides to react to and we know that the immune system is very vulnerable to modern life compared to 50 years ago."
Despite the once-held view that children outgrew food allergies, many were still affected as teenagers and adults, causing an alarming epidemic that was getting worse with each generation.
"We're seeing more and more kids not growing out of them," Professor Prescott said.
Charlotte Crainie, 2, was diagnosed with a cashew allergy a year ago, after she became violently ill after eating a dip.
Her mother Aimee said the family now had to be cautious when eating out.
Professor Prescott is donating proceeds from the book to allergy research.
Find Dr Susan Prescott's book "The Allergy Epidemic - A Mystery of Modern Life" on your Healthy Shelf today.
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