NUH’s New Egg Allergy Trial Treatment Might Result In Cure For Those With Food Allergies

By
Siti Hawa
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If you’re reading this right now, you might have an egg allergy. Or, like me, you might have other allergies, like nuts.

This can make it troublesome for you to eat out as you always have to worry whether a particular food might result in you being covered in rashes or worse, drop dead and die.

But a new egg allergy trial conducted by the National University Hospital (NUH) could very well be our knight in shining armour.

NUH’s New Egg Allergy Trial Treatment Might Result In Cure For Those With Food Allergies

NUH announced in a media briefing that it will be conducting a Probiotic and Egg Allergen Immunotherapy (PEAT) study.

Image: Tenor

What? Is this even possible?

The study aims to help people who have egg allergies consume eggs without having to worry about getting an allergy attack.

This study was inspired by a similar study conducted more than five years ago by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne.

Of course, this must mean that the results were promising, and yes it certainly was. The study showed “long-lasting” protection against peanut allergy up to four years post-treatment.

Four years?! Can they please do a nut allergy equivalent study.

Egg Allergy Is The Most Common Food Allergy For Children Under Three In Singapore

According to Dr Wong, egg allergy is the most common food allergy for children under three years old. Although many do outgrow their allergies, about 42% still remain allergic as they grow older.

It is also one of the top three causes of food-triggered severe allergic reactions in adults, such as choking, swelling of the airways and low blood pressure.

Food allergies are certainly no joke, and we’re all pretty much aware that the only way thus far to avoid a life-threatening attack is just to avoid the food, plain and simple.

But the problem for egg allergies is that, well, egg is a very popular ingredient in a lot of food. What’s worse is that many foods that doesn’t have egg as a main ingredient, still have it as a byproduct.

Dr Wong says, “This can significantly impair the quality of life for those with egg allergy and their family because total avoidance is close to impossible.”

PEAT Study

Luckily, this PEAT study hopes to increase an allergic individual’s tolerance to egg through a daily dose of a probiotic together with egg oral immunotherapy.

“Food allergies are actually an immune system problem … Food allergy occurs because the immune system recognises something that is innocuous or something that is not harmful like food protein and creates a reaction against it.”

Thus, immunotherapy hopes to change the way the immune system response to certain foods.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? But every good thing sometimes has cons attached.

The cons for immunotherapy is that it is temporary, although it is effective.

And good news for those with other allergies, if probiotic food immunotherapy approach can treat those with egg allergies, the study may be extended to other food allergies too!

Image: Giphy

Okay, now I’m excited.

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Siti Hawa
Email: [email protected]