|
|
 |
edusearch articles |
|
|
|
|
| Rural children have lower rates of allergies |
Article images
- click to enlarge - |
| Author : Edusearch
|
|
| Created : 30 Mar 2004
|
| Last Revision : 30 Mar 2004
|
IF YOU thought that growing up on a farm would be a childhood characterised by puffy itchy eyes, sneezing and constant wheezing, well think again. Scientists have discovered that growing up on a farm can provide protection against allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. In addition, children who live on farms with livestock appear to have protection against allergic respiratory disorders.
Susanna Von Essen from the University of Nebraska, has summarised numerous studies investigating the allergy rates among children who live on farms. Various European scientists have been surprised by the discovery that the asthma and allergy rates among children living on farms are lower than children raised in nearby towns. A Swiss study found children living on farms had lower rates of hayfever and allergies compared to non-rural children. Similarly, an Austrian study also found that hayfever, asthma and allergy rates were significantly lower in children living on a farm. The reason as to why this is the case requires further research. However, the current belief is that children exposed to a variety of antigens somehow leads to lower rates of allergy.
The studies also investigated asthma and allergy rates of adults who live on farms. Although the majority of the studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, New Zealand has not been left out. A survey completed by New Zealand farmers raising a variety of crops and livestock, found that 11.8 percent of farmers had asthma. The prevalence of asthma in the general population is 15 percent. However, asthma rates were significantly higher among horse breeders and groomers, pig farmers, poultry farmers and farmers handling oats. Bee keepers and deer farmers reported higher than expected rates of hayfever.
Farming environments are associated with a number of different respiratory tract disorders such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic bronchitis. Farms are becoming larger and more specialised in many parts of the world therefore the exposure to various antigens has intensified.
Current Opinion In Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2001; 1: 151-156.
This is one of many interesting and informative articles in the Allergy New Zealand website.
|
| Comments on this article:
| |
|
|
