Since the 1960s there has been an explosion of allergic illnesses. There are many theories as to why this is happening, and the focus today is on perigenetic factors (where a child's genetic expression is altered by factors other than a change in the DNA, such as changes in the diet, chemical exposure and changes in the body) as the rate of increase of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis simply cannot be accounted for by gene mutation or allergy inheritance. That being said, a child's greatest risk of developing an allergy is still having a parent with an allergy.
HOW DO ALLERGIES WORK?
The main organs involved in allergic processes are:
■ THE GUT Often seen early in life and misdiagnosed as colic. ■ THE SKIN From early severe “baby eczema” (known as seborrheic dermatitis) to the later development of eczema, or allergic dermatitis, and urticaria. ■ THE NOSE, SECONDARILY THE EARS, THROAT AND EVEN SINUS IN CHILDREN OLDER THAN 2. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is the most common and persistent symptom. ■ THE CHEST Asthma or recurrent wheezing occur.
We often see a progression of allergies, which is called an allergic march, where gut and skin problems in the first year of life develop into a persistent clear runny nose and finally the wheezing chest
