Allergy to nuts affects even one out of 200 adults – reports the BBC station. It can cause different reactions, from mild, such as itching and urticaria, to severe, such as anaphylactic shock. 28-year-old Chris managed to overcome an allergy to peanuts, although one day he almost died. “Now I eat them every day for breakfast,” he said in an interview with the BBC.
Food allergies spend their night's sleep suffering from them. 28-year-old Chris Brookes-Smith for many years lived in fear of death after eating peanuts. Ten years ago he suffered the worst allergic reaction after ordering curry at a local Indian restaurant. The trauma of this event stuck in his memory for a long time.
“I knew I was in trouble after the first bite,” said Chris Brookes -Smith in an interview with BBC. – In seconds there were stains on my lips, and I started to vomit during the minutes. I felt my throat swell, how my whole face swells. I thought I would die – he said. The man landed in the hospital after this event.
Going with friends and food in restaurants has become a nightmare
The BBC, citing charity organizations, reports that nuts for nuts affects up to one out of 200 adults. It can cause different reactions, from mild, such as itching and urticaria, to severe, such as anaphylactic shock.
Chris's allergy was revealed for the first time when he got a rash after eating a sandwich with peanut butter. Each subsequent eating of something that had peanuts in it caused more and more stronger allergic reactions. Since childhood, Chris Musiał thinks what he eats. Going with friends or food in restaurants, activities that should be a pleasure have turned into stressful, potentially dangerous experiences. Despite the passion for travel, Chris avoided countries where peanuts are widely used, such as Southeast Asia.
One day his mother learned about the therapy for the treatment of allergies in Guy's and St Thomas' Nhs Foundation Trust and King's College London. This therapy was to check whether adults like Chris, suffering from serious allergies to peanuts, could be felt by teaching their body to tolerate harmful allergens. Chris decided to take in this study.
Desensitization on peanuts
Chris, under the watchful eye of doctors, started by eating a fraction of milligram of peanut powder mixed with yogurt. For many months, the amount of nut powder was gradually increased, and finally the man could eat all the nut. As BBC writes, at the end of a nine -month study 14 out of 21 patients could eat the equivalent of five nuts without an allergic reaction, including Chris.
Professor Stephen Till, who conducted the study, said that treatment “has potential”. “Our patients took control, if you can say that, over their allergy,” he said. He added that such treatment cannot be carried out at home, only under the guidance of experts.
The method – called oral immunotherapy – is already checked in the treatment of pollen allergies, venom and bees. It is used for food allergies over the last 20 years, mainly in children whose immune systems are still in the development phase. It is believed that allergies in adults are more difficult to fight.
– Allergy to peanuts is very common in children and almost never disappears – said prof. Till. “These young people will later become adults, so we also need treatment for adults,” he added. The study was published in the journal Allergy.
The possibility of safe eating of peanuts had a huge impact on the lives of people who took part in the study – scientists report. Not all who tried this therapy were felt. To determine the cause, you will need to conduct research on more people – experts said.
Chris has finished the therapy to be deamed with peanuts. “Now I eat them every day for breakfast,” he said. He is grateful for the opportunity to take part in the study and hopes that many other people with serious allergies to peanuts will also be able to take advantage of this therapy.
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