This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7899383.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hope over peanut allergy 'cure' | Hope over peanut allergy 'cure' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A group of children with peanut allergies have had their condition effectively cured, doctors believe. | A group of children with peanut allergies have had their condition effectively cured, doctors believe. |
A team from Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital exposed four children to peanuts over a six-month period, gradually building up their tolerance. | A team from Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital exposed four children to peanuts over a six-month period, gradually building up their tolerance. |
By the end the children were eating the equivalent of five peanuts a day. | By the end the children were eating the equivalent of five peanuts a day. |
It is the first time a food allergy has been desensitised in such a way, although a longer-term follow up is now needed to confirm the findings. | It is the first time a food allergy has been desensitised in such a way, although a longer-term follow up is now needed to confirm the findings. |
Peanut allergies affect one in 50 young people in the UK and commonly cause breathing problems. | Peanut allergies affect one in 50 young people in the UK and commonly cause breathing problems. |
Although at its most serious, it can lead to a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock. | Although at its most serious, it can lead to a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock. |
This could make a real difference John CollardAllergy UK | This could make a real difference John CollardAllergy UK |
The Cambridge team started the children on tiny 5mg daily doses of peanut flour before they trained their bodies up to cope regularly with 800mg - the equivalent to five whole peanuts. | The Cambridge team started the children on tiny 5mg daily doses of peanut flour before they trained their bodies up to cope regularly with 800mg - the equivalent to five whole peanuts. |
Kate Frost, the mother of a nine-year-old who was one of the four participants, said: "It's very hard to describe how much of a difference it's made - not just in Michael's life, but for all of us. | Kate Frost, the mother of a nine-year-old who was one of the four participants, said: "It's very hard to describe how much of a difference it's made - not just in Michael's life, but for all of us. |
"A peanut allergy affects the whole family. You can't go out to a restaurant. If your child goes to a birthday party, he takes a packed lunch." | "A peanut allergy affects the whole family. You can't go out to a restaurant. If your child goes to a birthday party, he takes a packed lunch." |
Peanut allergy sufferer Carl Morris: 'I hadn't had a Mars Bar in nine years' | |
The concept of desensitising people to allergies has been successfully done with bee and wasp stings and pollen allergies, but this is the first time it has been achieved with a food-related allergy. | The concept of desensitising people to allergies has been successfully done with bee and wasp stings and pollen allergies, but this is the first time it has been achieved with a food-related allergy. |
A few trials were done in the 1990s using peanut injections, but these were not successful. | A few trials were done in the 1990s using peanut injections, but these were not successful. |
'Quality of life' | 'Quality of life' |
Dr Andy Clark, who led the research published in the journal Allergy, said: "Every time people with a peanut allergy want something, they're frightened that it might kill them. | Dr Andy Clark, who led the research published in the journal Allergy, said: "Every time people with a peanut allergy want something, they're frightened that it might kill them. |
"Our motivation was to find a treatment that would change that and give them the confidence to eat what they like. It's all about quality of life. | "Our motivation was to find a treatment that would change that and give them the confidence to eat what they like. It's all about quality of life. |
"It's not a permanent cure, but as long as they go on taking a daily dose they should maintain their tolerance." | "It's not a permanent cure, but as long as they go on taking a daily dose they should maintain their tolerance." |
The team have now expanded the study to include another 18 children and say there is no reason why the technique would not work for adults. | The team have now expanded the study to include another 18 children and say there is no reason why the technique would not work for adults. |
John Collard, the clinical director of Allergy UK, said it was "an important step forward". | John Collard, the clinical director of Allergy UK, said it was "an important step forward". |
"This could make a real difference, but at this stage it is too early to tell whether it will work for everyone. We need to see it used on more people and over a long period of time." | "This could make a real difference, but at this stage it is too early to tell whether it will work for everyone. We need to see it used on more people and over a long period of time." |
Previous version
1
Next version