With up to 10% of children suffering with asthma, pregnant women are naturally keen to know what they can do to prevent their baby developing either asthma or some other allergic condition. An interesting study came out recently in the Journal of Physiology  which suggests that a maternal diet containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may influence development of the immune system of the unborn child so he or she is less likely to suffer from allergies. Before we go any further, I should point out that this study was carried out in piglets, rather than humans. But they do say that the porcine gut is a good model of the human, so these results are certainly interesting.

Supplementing with a group of PUFAs called n-3 PUFAs made the newborn gut more permeable. This would enable bacteria and other substances to pass through the gut lining to the bloodstream more easily.  Which, in turn, may help the immune system develop and

If you have asthma or some other allergy, then allergen avoidance has to be your top priority. Allergen avoidance can help you gain control, reduce symptoms and reduce your reliance on medication. But how best to go about limiting your exposure to every day allergens? What is practical and realistic? Dr. Thomas Platt-Mills, of the Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center and the University of Virginia Medical Center provides some excellent advice on how to best avoid house dust mite, cat and insect allergens.

House Dust Mite

Dr Platts-Mills has been named ‘Dr House Dust Mite’ because of his expertise in this area:

• House dust mites love moisture, so control the humidity in your home. In a dry area, opening the windows regularly may be enough. If you live in a more humid place, then consider air conditioning or a

Asthma and allergic conditions like rhinitis affect more than 100 million people around the world. In the UK alone, 5.2 million adults and 1.1 million children are receiving treatment for asthma, creating a significant burden on the NHS, to say nothing of the personal suffering involved. Yet there have been no new treatments for asthma and allergy for 20 years. Existing treatments only target the symptoms; they do not tackle the allergen itself.

But there is hope on the horizon. Researchers at The University of Manchester and St George's, University of London, are developing novel drugs for allergy called Allergen Delivery Inhibitors (ADIs). They block the action of allergens before they can cause any damage to the respiratory system. In 2009, the team was awarded a £4.3 million award to for their work on ADIs by The Wellcome Trust, the world's largest medical research charity and they have now been received a further £390,000

Rising carbon dioxide levels are encouraging the growth of ragweed and poison ivy and boosting the proliferation of fungal spores. As a result, plant-based respiratory allergies are on the increase and there is more ragweed pollen in the air, according to Lewis Ziska, a plant physiologist with the United States Department of Agriculture. 'Climate change is affecting plants and human health, especially that of allergy sufferers,' he said at a recent meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Moreover, leaves fed by increased levels of carbon dioxide allow fungi to reproduce more rapidly and spread more allergenic spores.

Climate change is also likely to increase indoor air pollution in homes, schools and offices. This is because it increases indoor humidity which is known to allow house dust mite and

The festive season brings some challenges for people with allergies, mainly because you could be exposed to triggers that are specific to the Holiday Season and New Years. But with a little forward planning and thought, you can relax and enjoy yourself without fear of an asthma or rhinitis attack.

First, those decorations. Did you know that Christmas trees can harbour a lot of pollen? And that the terpene in the sap that's released when they are cut can be a potent allergen? The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology suggests that you go over the tree with a leaf blower, and then spray it with water, leaving it to dry outside before bringing it indoors. That will help bring down the mould and pollen levels emitted from the tree. You may, of course, opt for a pretty artificial Christmas tree -

Milk is a common trigger for asthma and eczema. Proteins in milk may act as true allergens, and milk can also create mucus which can make asthma symptoms worse. So it's intriguing to learn that one well-respected study has shown that drinking farm (raw) milk can have a protective effect against both asthma and hayfever. Dr Marco Waser of the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues in Europe and the USA studied a group of 15,000 children aged 5-13 from farming, rural and urban communities. Those who drank raw milk had a 25% reduced chance of getting asthma and a 50% reduced chance of getting hayfever. No such protection was seen against eczema. Some of the milk was boiled before the children drank it - but the protective effect was still found. This boiling wasn't the same as commercial pasteurization so the milk was still 'raw'. The work was part of the PARSIFAL (Prevention of Allergy - Risk Factors for Sensitization Related to Farming and Anthroposophic

In line with our recent post about Dr. Andrew Weil and hay-fever, there is a lot of discussion about the effects that certain diets can have on your allergies. Some foods are believed to cross-react with pollens, making allergic symptoms worse at certain times of the year. For instance, it is suggested that if you're allergic to birch pollen, your hay fever can be made worse by apples. If so, it would be good to talk to a pharmacist or allergy specialist to discover what pollens you are allergic to, by establishing when your symptoms start and cease and which plants and trees are flowering in your area during that time. After that you can play around to see which foods may cross-react with these pollens and eliminate them from your diet at the appropriate times.

Here are some the pollen and food combinations that might make your symptoms worse:

CULPRIT: Birch - March to May

WATCH OUT FOR: Celery, curry spices, raw

At London’s Chelsea Flower Show this week, Olivia Kirk of KKE Architects has designed a garden with hay fever, general allergy and asthma sufferers in mind. The garden was designed for the University of Worcester to provide a tranquil spot for staff and students to sit and relax. The allergy friendly garden aims to complement the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at the University, which tries to help allergy and asthma sufferers by conducting research and consultancy on large organic particles both in the indoor and outdoor environments.

Although sharing similar features with many of the other small, modern gardens at the Show, Olivia’s allergy friendly design has been carefully planned to give a balance of shade, sun and shelter. She used natural materials and low-allergen plants with the aim of causing the least irritation to people