‘Cousin’ of superbug could cure peanut allergy

[theHandpuppet]

The Scotsman
‘Cousin’ of superbug could cure peanut allergy
by JOHN VON RADOWITZ
26 August, 2014

BACTERIA from a family that includes potentially deadly infectious bugs may protect against food allergies, research has shown...

...The new study suggests that “friendly” clostridia have a unique ability to block the harmful immune response behind food allergies...

...In this latest development, tests on “sterile” mice sensitised to peanuts showed that introducing a clostridia cocktail into their bacteria-free guts reversed their allergy.

Tests indicated that clostridia caused immune cells to produce high levels of a “signalling” molecule known to decrease permeability of the intestinal lining....

MORE at http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/cousin-of-superbug-could-cure-peanut-allergy-1-3520456

[cbayer]

1. Interesting stuff. The whole gut bug line of research is really

getting some attention these days.

This makes some theoretical sense in that human children who are exposed to more potential allergens as children tend to have less allergies as adults.

[kdmorris]

2. I hope there is a cure of some sort some day

An hour before their 12 month check up, I decided to give my sons peanut butter "in case" they were allergic to peanuts. It was kind of a lark but within 3 minutes of eating it, one of my sons was vomiting and his lips swelled up. He had a rash along his face and neck. Needless to say, we ended up at the pediatrician about 45 minutes early.

She said not to give him anymore nuts and they will test him for peanut allergy when he's 2. I'm still really really hoping that it was something else and not a peanut allergy because peanut allergies are one of the few that can kill you. I mean, we'll deal with it if we have to, but I would like for him to have a life that wasn't full of potential deadly traps.

[cbayer]

3. I am so sorry to hear that.

Peanuts are in so many things and are hard to avoid, but the consequences of a full blown allergy can be really scary.

Did they give you an Rx for epi pens? They are a great comfort to have around, particularly when you are out and about.

[kdmorris]

4. No, and I didn't think to ask

I was kind of in shock because I gave them the peanut butter on a lark. One of my friends had done it and I'd laughed about her paranoia of peanut allergies.

They go back soon for their next set of shots (15 months) and I figured I'd ask more questions then since last time I just stared dumbly at her and all I really heard was "don't feed him nuts". It was a little scary at the time

[cbayer]

5. "Don't feed him nuts", lol. Gee, thanks.

You can ask about the epi pen when you go back, but it wouldn't hurt to keep a little liquid Benadryl around.

Hopefully he will grow out of it.