Tackling allergy prevention in early life

Researchers at Telethon Kids Institute are encouraged by a recent report released by the Federal Government’s House of Representatives into allergies and anaphylaxis in Australia.

Allergy and Immunology researchers at the Institute have long recognised the importance of dedicating time and funds into investigating the early environment and its effect on allergy development in young people, and the importance of prevention.

“With increasing prevalence of allergic diseases now affecting one in five young children, we need to further our understanding of how, why and when allergies occur,” Telethon Kids Institute Head of Childhood Allergy and Immunology Research, Dr Debbie Palmer said. “We then need to undertake research to find the most effective strategies for allergy prevention.”

The Childhood Allergy and Immunology Research Team at the Telethon Kids Institute are currently conducting four studies investigating nutritional strategies in the diets of mothers and babies and how these may reduce the development of allergies.

“We are tackling allergy prevention in early life as many children appear to commence on an allergy-prone pathway before they turn one,” Dr Palmer said.  

The studies are being conducted as part of The ORIGINS Project, a collaboration between Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus, looking at the impact of the early environment on the health outcomes of 10,000 families and babies birthed at Joondalup Health Campus over ten years.

The Childhood Allergy and Immunology Research Team has led previous research studies that have now been incorporated into allergy prevention national recommendations that common allergy foods (like egg) should be given to babies regularly once they start on solid foods to assist with reducing the risk of food allergy development. 

“Although this approach will benefit some babies, we have also discovered that for other babies, strategies to prevent allergies need to start even during pregnancy,” Dr Palmer said.

“In the PrEggNut study, we are now investigating with our ORIGINS Project families whether there is an ideal amount of eggs and peanuts a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding that will further reduce the development of these common food allergies in her baby.”

Photo credit: The West Australian Newspaper Limited

ORIGINS mum Kayleigh Plummer and her partner Dave Osborn have had some frightening experiences during their daughter Maya’s first year of life.

Maya (pictured with Mum Kayleigh above) was diagnosed with a dairy allergy which took several episodes of severe reactions before the allergen was confirmed. Now Maya has an EpiPen nearby at all times.

Kayleigh said not knowing exactly what Maya was allergic to was the hardest part, and she was not excited to introduce her to food because of it.

“People were saying try her on this or that. I can’t say I was excited to introduce her to food. It’s so scary. It’s not just a mild allergy where she can take some antihistamines and feel better. It’s potentially life-threatening, which is crazy.”

Read the front page article in The West Australian Newspaper

Hear Dr Debbie Palmer being interviewed about her research on the 6PR podcast

Find out more about The ORIGINS Project here or contact the team on originsproject@telethonkids.org.au to become involved.