Just found out something incredibly interesting about curing allergies.....

[OHforDUCKScake]

Havent posted on here in ages!

Anyway, my ex just text me. Said he heard something very exciting and interesting on the radio. Countries where parasitic worms are not routinely treated, NO allergies are present.

So I googled and sure enough doctors, immunologist are on to something, infecting someone with parasitic hook worm can reduce and cure asthma and allergies (amongst other things, arthritis, autoimmune diseases etc).

Im not sure which website is more reputable/believable so Im just going to link you to the google search.

worms for dinner?

What happens if your allergic to the worms?

You're screwed.

Im not sure. But its very interesting!

One of ds1's very good friends had worms last week. It's a fair bet that ds has them too! He has been prescribe the medicine to treat the worms but it is banana flavoured and he is highly allergic to banana.

He can keep the worms

Sorry to burst the bubble but this is a bit of a crock.

In countries where worms are not treated, anaphylaxis is not routinely treated either. If you have an allergy you tend to die rather than survive long enough to make a statistic.
An allergic reaction is oddly enough a sign of a functioning immune system (if massively over zealous). Where you are so malnourished by the worms to the point where your immune system is not functioning effectively you won't have allergies, but you won't have a long life expectancy either.

I'd hold off eating soil for now

Gah. I suppose that does make sense.

I have read before about hook worms reducing the symptoms of hayfever etc. and been partially convinced. Maybe I just want to believe it?

Ds' s friend has thread worms, and that's probably not the same thing (although the same logic would apply?)

I know I have to go back to the doctor and find s medicine that is not banana flavour - but have been putting it off for days now.

If only finding a cure for allergies was as simple add infecting our children with worms!!!!!

Sorry about typos. Damn phone.

This is very much debated as far as I understand. Look up the work of Prof Dave Pritchard from University of Nottingham if you want to do some reading by an internationally recognised expert. He has carried out clinical trials into using hook worms for treatment of various autoimmune diseases.

A link to a relatively recent paper:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22168433

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22168433

Sorry, link again.

I doubt banana flavour has ever been near a banana!

Yes, banana flavour is probably completely artificial - but unless i can be sure this is not a risk I am prepared to take.

Greenbananas my banana allergic toddler was fine with the banana worm stuff.

Im almost certain theres no banana involvement.

As for them not treating anaphylaxis, Im not sure that would explain the 'no allergies' thing because there are tonnes of allergy symptoms.

Ds is allergic to 30 foods but only 3 of them cause anaphylaxis.....

I didn't say all allergies caused anaphylaxis did I?

You are right allergies do cause all sorts of 'symptoms' such as rashes, itching, and allergic rhinitis.
If you are not going to treat worms, you are not going to treat minor irritatations like those above. So there is still no documented allergy. The statistics are going to be skewed when compared to UK levels of allergy.

That said there is a theory that worms some how 'switch off' parts of the immune system to ensure their survival. There isn't sufficient medical evidence to support this currently. I know research is continuing in this area, but I remain highly skeptical.

"If you have an allergy you tend to die rather than make a statistic"

"I didnt say all allergies caused anaphylaxis did I?"

I didnt say you did.

Clearly this subject 'gets your goat' I just posted because it was interesting.

No, the goat is unaffected. Maybe it has worms.

It is interesting but I'm cynical. That's all.