• Question: I have an anaphylaxis allergy to brazil nuts. Is there any work going on to cure allergies?

    Asked by Elliot to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 18 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by louisa.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 18 Nov 2014:

      There is a lot of work going on here but it does depend on what type of allergy you have. Anaphylactic shock is a very rapid response and it will be difficult to treat with anything other than adrenaline and anti-histamines because of this rapid onset. It also is caused by your immune system being over sensitive – again, somthing that is difficult to modify.

      One area where we are seeing some success is asthma, which is often caused by an allergy to dustmites. A new treatment is being developed that focuses on the dustmite and not the human in an effort to overcome the underlying problem.

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 19 Nov 2014:

      Anaphylactic shock is an incredibly rapid response to your body ingesting certain chemicals (in your case, something in brazil nuts). Because of it’s rapid onset it is difficult to cure and the main treatement is prevention – either through avoiding eating those substances, or by providing something that will prevent such severe symptoms if you are exposed.

      While there is research going into allergies and the responses that they cause, development of a cure would be incredibly complicated.

    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 19 Nov 2014:

      I am not sure if this applies to anaphyaxis but I know it does for people with severe allergies (as I am one and have been offered it).
      It is called de-senstitisation treatment. What happens is that the doctor injects a very small amount of the drug into the patient and over the course of a couple of years they increase the does. The body slowly learns to tollerate the allergy so your body doesn’t overreact too it anymore.

Comments