Allergic disease major illness cause
Published: Jan. 8, 2008 at 10:48 PM
NOTTINGHAM, England, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Allergic disease might replace infectious disease as a major cause of ill health in cities in developing countries, British researchers say.
Study leader Hywel Williams of The University of Nottingham in England says eczema needs to be tackled at a public health level in many countries.
Williams and an international team of researchers analyzed data from two worldwide surveys of asthma and allergy symptoms in children from 1991 to 2001. The surveys involved 300,000 children ages 13 to 14 in 55 countries and nearly 190,000 children ages 6 to 7 from 35 countries.
Children ages 13 to 14 in northwest Europe -- countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Germany -- as well as New Zealand had large decreases in eczema. But most of the biggest increases in the 13 to 14 age group were seen in developing countries such as Mexico, Chile, Kenya and Algeria and in seven countries in Southeast Asia.
The paper, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggests environmental factors may be key for eczema expression because it is highly unlikely genetic factors would change in such a short time.
Study leader Hywel Williams of The University of Nottingham in England says eczema needs to be tackled at a public health level in many countries.
Williams and an international team of researchers analyzed data from two worldwide surveys of asthma and allergy symptoms in children from 1991 to 2001. The surveys involved 300,000 children ages 13 to 14 in 55 countries and nearly 190,000 children ages 6 to 7 from 35 countries.
Children ages 13 to 14 in northwest Europe -- countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Germany -- as well as New Zealand had large decreases in eczema. But most of the biggest increases in the 13 to 14 age group were seen in developing countries such as Mexico, Chile, Kenya and Algeria and in seven countries in Southeast Asia.
The paper, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggests environmental factors may be key for eczema expression because it is highly unlikely genetic factors would change in such a short time.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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