New treatment brings hope for children with food allergies

A simple cream spread on to the skin of children could be a secret weapon in the fight against potentially deadly food allergies — and even asthma. This is how.

New hope is on the horizon for thousands of Victorian children with potentially deadly food allergies.

A simple barrier cream applied to the skin of children could be the secret to preventing the development of eczema, food allergies and even asthma, while a powder sprinkled daily on kids’ food and probiotic mixed in water could overcome egg allergy.

Melbourne has the highest level of child allergies in the world, with about ten per cent of one-year-olds afflicted and nearly 2800 children now waiting for allergy appointments or tests.

Egg is the most common food allergy, but also one of the hardest to avoid because of its inclusion in so many processed foods.

While half of children outgrow their egg allergy by the time they reach school, the rest face years of restricted diets and live in fear of a serious or even fatal allergic reaction.

The 18-month egg therapy promises to deliver ongoing remission from the allergy.

So common are food allergies in Victoria, nearly 1700 children are booked for allergy appointments at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital while nearly 600 are scheduled for allergy testing.

Egg is the most common food allergy — and also one of the most difficult to avoid. Picture: Zoe Phillips

A further 490 children who do not meet the age criteria for testing are waiting to be transferred to the active waiting list.

The demand is so great most children wait between six and nine months for tests.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) allergy expert Professor Mimi Tang told the Sunday Herald Sun recruitment for the egg trial has started.

It was hoped the cream study would show that by applying a specially-formulated barrier lotion to the skin of children, eczema, food allergies and potentially even asthma could be warded-off, as the conditions were strongly linked.

“The theory behind it is that children who have eczema have it because there’s a defect in the skin barrier due to a lack of particular component that you secrete in your skin. If you replace it with a topical cream — which acts like the normal secretions — you might be able to prevent the evolution of eczema and we know that eczema leads to food allergy,” Prof. Tang said.

A similar study in the UK had not returned positive results but it was hoped the Melbourne trial would, she said.

Melbourne has the highest level of child allergies in the world.

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The egg allergy treatment trial would be conducted in Melbourne and Singapore, and was looking to recruit 40 children from each city, Prof. Tang said.

A peanut allergy therapy had proven to be extremely successful, with children remaining in remission several years after treatment.

As a randomised control trial, half the children would receive the real egg allergy therapy while the other half were given placebo, she said.

“My goal is to establish a treatment that is long lasting and induces remission that persists for years (and) will provide children with a long lasting treatment that switches off the underlying allergy. It’s not just a Band-Aid that suppresses the allergy reaction which is what desensitisation treatment offers you,” Prof. Tang said.

Research had shown the development of allergies was related to western lifestyle, and another study was looking at whether lack of vitamin D could play a role, and if supplements could help, she said.

Families interested in participating in the egg allergy study can contact [e-mail].

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