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Patients who have had poor results managing chronic allergic conditions or whose ?llergies·have been misdiagnosed often turn to natural therapists. This is hardly surprising since the frequency of allergies has doubled in the past 25 years.
It is estimated that one in three Australians will develop allergies, and approximately 40% of children will be affected. In fact, a recent Australian study confirmed that almost one in three pre-school aged children have some form of atopic dermatitis.
Atopic illnesses, which include the asthma/eczema/hay fever triad, are characterised by a pronounced reaction or sensitivity of the immune system, generally to specific environmental conditions. Allergic reactions occur wherever immune system cells are located to fight off invaders that are inhaled, swallowed or come in contact with the skin ·this explains why most atopic conditions present in the integumentary system of the human body.
Studies have shown that allergen exposure in early life may prime for subsequent T cell reactivity. If T cell selection favours the growth of T helper 1 (Th1) cells, IgA and IgG host responses will be favoured. However, if T cell selection favours the production of T helper 2 (Th2) cells, IgE production will be promoted, increasing the likelihood of atopic disease. Repeated bacterial or viral infections might protect against the development of allergic disease by enhancing Th1 responses. After repeated re-stimulation, a T cell phenotype becomes dominant, leading to memory T cells that direct immune responses to the allergen throughout later life.
Allergy symptoms often develop gradually over time and atopic conditions tend to be more common in children. It is well known that boys before puberty have higher serum IgE levels making them more vulnerable to atopic conditions during childhood than girls.
Connections between parent-child for the atopic illnesses of asthma, eczema, food allergies and hay fever were studied in a sample of 325 families. Findings augment the evidence for genetic factors in the development of atopic illnesses and suggest that the atopies of each parent may contribute to an aggregate, generalised risk for their children. Maternal atopy appeared to be more strongly related to the children? asthma and hay fever than paternal atopy. The causes of atopy are not fully understood, however, studies have found high levels of concordance among parents and their children for the presence and severity of particular atopic conditions. This study emphasises the importance of a detailed case history in which the patient? familial and childhood history can be a very useful tool in predicting predisposition to atopy.
ECZEMA AND DERMATITIS
Atopic dermatitis usually manifests in early infancy in conjunction with other atopic disease. It is more prevalent in the winter months, and also in Asian children. In 30-50% of patients with atopic dermatitis, concomitant symptoms of respiratory allergies tend to develop after the childhood phase of atopic dermatitis.
Eczema and dermatitis may be classified as exogenous (environmental, dietary) or endogenous (physiological, emotional) depending on whether precipitating factors can be identified. Although these are predominantly allergic reactions, atopic skin conditions may be triggered by bacterial, viral or fungal infections, as well as toxic exposure and immunological disorders. In patients with lowered immunity.
Blackmores Professional Echinacea ACE plus Zinc may be beneficial to treat recurrent infections and may also be used as an adjuvant to antibiotics when required. Zinc plays a central role in the immune system and in the maintenance of skin and mucosal integrity.
The most common sites for eczema are in the flexures of the knees and elbows, however eczema distributed on the eyelids and forehead and on the dorsa of arms and elbows and on the ankles is often caused by environmental allergens. In babies, the face is more commonly involved and allergies to environmental allergens might not become relevant until about 12 months, after which the condition progressively worsens. Severity of the skin presentation tends to increase after the first year of life with skin lesions becoming milder and often disappearing completely by around 30 years of age. In addition to the well-known implications of house dust mite for asthmatics, it is also regarded as the most significant environmental allergen leading to atopic eczema.
Stress is frequently an exacerbating factor for those who are predisposed to eczema. Psychological stress induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines and thus chronic stress typically causes an individual to have reduced resistance to allergies and infection. Increased omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) levels may attenuate the proinflammatory response to psychologic stress.
RESPIRATORY ALLERGIES
It has been suggested that there is a unifying hypothesis linking atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation. Together with genetic predisposition and environmental influences, asthma may result.
Within the allergic half of the population an increasing number of subjects are developing symptoms of either asthma or hay fever, and it has been suggested that the acquisition of allergy is occurring at a younger age.
The presence of atopic disease in childhood is a predictor for the later development of asthma and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. This is particularly the case if atopy has an early onset. Research has shown that those children who are severely sensitised to allergens such as house dust mites, mould and animal dander at an early age are pre-disposed to more serious clinical presentation of asthma later. Experts recommend minimisation of infant exposure to known allergens in order to reduce or delay the development of severe childhood asthma.
Creating an allergen-free environment in the home can present a real challenge for practitioners and patients alike. It is important to understand where patients receive most of their exposure to allergens in order to improve treatment outcomes.
The bed tends to be the most important source of mite allergens and lowering exposure in the bedroom is the primary target of avoidance. Other sources of allergens include pollens, moulds, animal protein from excrement and skin, feathers, cockroaches and their waste. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, industrial chemicals, medicines, temperature and humidity extremes may also play a role.
Hay fever, with its typical features of sneezing, clear discharge and eye and nasal irritability is also an indicator of atopy. Examination of nasal mucosa shows the mucosa to be moist, pale and oedematous and nasal polyps may sometimes be seen.
Blackmores Professional Sambucus Complex combines botanical medicines traditionally used in the treatment of both allergic and infective hay fever and sinus congestion. Vitamin A is also included to help maintain the epithelial and mucosal surfaces and their secretions, and to support the immune system.
Studies have shown that more than two out of three Australian children consume a high fat diet that may put them at an increased risk of asthma. The child? increased predisposition to atopy is likely to be due to changes in the fatty acid composition of the diet. The omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs are potent modulators of the inflammatory response system and of lymphocytic and monocytic functions. Fish oil in particular has been shown to be beneficial and studies show that children who eat fish more than once a week are at significantly reduced risk of having airway hyper-responsiveness and asthma.
BOWEL HEALTH
From a naturopathic perspective, skin disease is a sign of inner toxicity. European and American traditions treated skin complaints with ?lood cleansers·and ?lood purifiers· which are considered to detoxify and help eliminatory functions to reduce the accumulation of metabolic wastes.
Blackmores Professional Trifolium Complex contains the alterative herbs red clover, yellow dock, dandelion and burdock. The mildly laxative and blood cleansing actions of these herbs is supported by skin nutrients zinc and vitamin A.
Intestinal flora plays a major role in the health of the host. Overgrowth of Candida albicans in the gastrointestinal tract has been implicated as a causative factor in a variety of allergic conditions including atopic dermatitis. Elevated levels of anti-Candida antibodies are common in atopic individuals, and furthermore, the severity of eczema lesions tends to correlate with the level of IgE antibodies to Candida antigens. For some patients an anti-Candida dietary regime and treatment plan may lead to improvement or resolution of their skin condition.
Probiotics are beneficial in supporting conditions of bowel dysfunction such as Candida infection, constipation, flatulence and bloating.
Blackmores Professional Probact contains a minimum of 1 billion organisms made up of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis.
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