UK: Nut allergy 'hits Asian children'

A disproportionately high number of Asian children are being diagnosed with nut allergy, a leading expert says.

Dr Abbass Khakoo, medical director at London's Hillingdon Hospital, is a specialist in food allergies.

He said children from ethnic minorities were over-represented at his two London clinics.

He has found children from ethnic backgrounds appear to display symptoms of nut allergies at a younger age than their white counterparts.

Guys and St Thomas hospital in London, which has a large allergy clinic, has also reported that they are seeing higher numbers of Asian children who have nut allergies.

Dr Khakoo has called for further research to find out why more Asian children appear to be developing nut allergies.

He said: "There is something about the increase in these groups presenting to allergy clinics, that is causing alarm and puzzlement because we don't understand why there has been an explosion in nut allergy"

Peanut allergy affects up to 2% of young children in the UK, but other nuts including almonds, cashew, brazil nuts and walnuts can also cause a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock.

Swelling

Symptoms can include breathing problems, swelling of the throat and mouth, a change in the heart rate and even unconsciousness which could lead to death.




Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Publication date: 6/3/2009