FEATURES YBJULY & AUGUST 2019 | 27Marina Petropulos
recently launched a new
edition of her Baby & Child
Care Handbook, an internationally
renowned “baby bible” that has sold
over 1 million copies over the past 30
years. There are new additions to this
version: everything you need to know
about pregnancy, the prevention of
food allergies, breastfeeding updates
and a few bust myths. When you buy
a copy, you also gain access to
a website containing 120 talks by the
world’s leading paediatric experts and
professors, at no additional charge.
Cost is R349 at all big book stores.
One lucky Your Baby reader wins
a copy! SMS the code YB241Marina
to 36480 as well as your full name,
physical address, email address and
contact number. T’s&C’s on page 97.only in high-risk infants who show no
sensitivity to peanuts early on, but it
is also effective in infants who already
demonstrate peanut sensitivity,” says
Professor George du Toit, a South
African who conducted the LEAP study
at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
“It is reassuring that the highly
protective intervention demonstrated in
LEAP was not only safe, nutritionally
favourable and acceptable to participant
families, but also sustained even with
cessation of peanut consumption for
12 mont h s.”
IT WORKS FOR
WHEAT & EGGS TOO
Another study showed that children
introduced to cereals before six months
had a lower prevalence of wheat allergy
than children who started later than six
months. Introducing eggs from four to six
months was also associated with
a lower prevalence of egg allergy. It was
also found that infants were far less likely
to have an adverse reaction to well-
cooked eggs and extensively heated cow’s
milk when introduced before six months.
In August 2015, a remarkable number
of international associations got together
and issued a consensus communication
endorsing the new recommendations,
supporting early peanut introduction
when starting complementary foods in
infancy. These associations include the
World Allergy Association; American
Academy of Asthma Allergy and
Immunology; American Academy of
Paediatrics; the European Academy of
Allergology and Clinical Immunology;
European Society for Paediatric
Gastroenterology, Herpetology and
Nutrition; Australasian Society of
Clinical Immunology and Allergy;
the Canadian Society of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology; the European
Academy of Allergy; Israel Association
of Allergy and Clinical Immunology;
the Japanese Society for Allergology,
Academy of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology; and the Society for
Paediatric Research USA.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
These are some of their comments:
- “For a study to show a benefit of
this magnitude in the prevention of
peanut allergy is without precedent.
The results of which have the potential
to transform how we approach food
allergy prevention’’ – Anthony Fauci,
an American immunologist and the
director of the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who
in 2018 ranked as the 26th most highly
cited researcher of all time.
Others stated:- “Do not delay the introduction
of any specific solid food beyond six
months. Later introduction of peanut,
fish or egg does not prevent, and may
even increase, the risk of developing
f o o d a l l e r g y.” - “There is no evidence that avoiding
milk, egg, peanut butter or other
potential allergens during pregnancy
helps prevent allergy, while the risks of
maternal under-nutrition and potential
harm to the infant may be significant.” - “Formula-fed babies: Extensively
hydrolysed casein formula is likely
to be more effective than partially
hydrolysed whey formula in preventing
atopic dermatitis (skin allergies).
There is no role for soya formula in
allergy prevention.” - ”Regular ingestion of newly
introduced foods (several times a week
and with a soft mashed consistency
to prevent choking) is important to
maintain tolerance.” - “Routine skin or specific IgE
blood testing before first ingestion is
discouraged, due to the high risk
of potentially confusing false-
positive results.”
LATEST RECOMMENDATION
The latest recommendation is therefore
that there is no advantage in delaying
the introduction of solid foods beyond
four to six months in a bid to prevent
allergies. In fact, it appears that the
introduction of potentially allergenicfoods at this stage may decrease the
chances of allergy.
There has also been evidence for
some time now that early exposure
to a potentially allergenic (or “dirty”)
environment, such as that found
on farms, as well as animal dander
(especially cat fur), moulds and the
house dust mite (found in house dust),
may help to activate the immune system
in the prevention of allergies other than
food allergies. Needless to say, cigarette
smoking and smoky environments are
a no-no.
Unfortunately there are a number
of treatments that are touted to be
effective for which there is no scientific
evidence. These include the Vega test,
York hair follicle test, acupuncture and
homeopathy, “energy blockage” and
home testing kits.
The correct diagnosis of an allergy
requires a detailed history and testing
by an expert allergy physician. YBCHILDREN ARE
NOT GETTING
THE NUTRIENTS
THEY NEED,
BECAUSE
PARENTS ARE
CUTTING OUT
SO MANY FOOD
GROUPS
WIN!