Kids Growing Out Of Allergies

But Aussie levels still high


Article heading image for Kids Growing Out Of Allergies

New Aussie research is out on kids food allergies, with nearly two thirds outgrowing it by the age of four.

The Murdoch Children's Research Institute has released the findings of a study conducted at the Australian Centre of Food and Allergy Research.

The "HealthNuts" study involving more than 5000 kids, showed food allergy reduced from 11 per cent at age one to 3.8 per cent, or 1 in 25, at age four.

Outgrowing an egg allergy was the main change, dropping from 9.5 per cent to 1.2 per cent.

The prevalence of peanut allergy fell from 3.1 per cent to 1.9 per cent.

Lead author Dr Rachel Peters says the study showed up to 50 per cent experienced symptoms of any allergic disease in the first four years of their life.

Importantly, the study also identified risk factors for food allergy. "We've found that children who have older siblings and children who have pet dogs early in life are less likely to develop food allergies," said Dr Peters.

But the research also showed the prevalence of food allergies among AussieĀ children is still remarkably high compared to other countries.

14 May 2017




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