Emergency Services Newsletter - Southeastern PA

The Number of Children Suffering From Allergies, Asthma and Eczema Is Rising

A German research team studied 1300 children from different economic backgrounds. During this study, they concluded those children from middle-class to higher socio-economic backgrounds were far more likely to suffer from allergies than the children of lower status.

Muriel Simmons, the chief executive of the British Allergy Foundation, said: "What seems to be emerging is that children who are not exposed to bacteria are more at risk of developing allergies."

With the lifestyles we have created today, children tend to stay indoors watching television or playing on computers rather than going outside to play. Without outdoor exposure, children are not getting to play in the dirt, get cuts and bruises and learn to fight off infections. They are not being exposed to different types of bacteria the outside world has to offer.

What the study suggests is exposure to potential allergens at an early age may actually offer protection against allergic conditions later in life. Without early exposure, the child's immune system is unable build up a normal response to allergens. Instead, the child when exposed later suffers allergic reactions.