A systematic review analyzing data from 2.8 million children across 40 countries identified the main elements linked to the onset of food allergies in early life. Published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, the study suggests that this condition results from the interaction between genetic predisposition, changes in the skin barrier, early exposure to antibiotics, and environmental influences.
Food allergy manifests when the immune system responds inappropriately to certain proteins found in foods such as milk, egg, peanuts, nuts, or fish. Instead of considering these proteins harmless, the body perceives them as a threat, which can lead to symptoms ranging from mild to severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis. According to pediatric allergist Renata Rodrigues Cocco, the child's immune system is still developing, allowing it to identify food proteins as foreign, triggering the allergic reaction.
The researchers examined 190 studies and evaluated 342 potential factors. The main conclusion points to the relevance of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in the first year of life, late introduction of allergenic foods (such as egg and peanuts), antibiotic use in the first months, and family history of allergies. Although smaller correlations were noted with Cesarean delivery, male sex, and being the firstborn, these aspects had less impact.
Renata Cocco comments that today it is understood that food allergy does not have a single cause, and it is classified as a disease characteristic of contemporary life. She adds that factors such as alterations in the microbiome, diets rich in ultra-processed foods, pollution, and other environmental elements can increase mucosal permeability, causing the immune system to begin treating food proteins as dangerous.
One of the most significant findings of the review is the link between atopic dermatitis and the appearance of food allergies. Babies who presented with eczema in the first year of life showed three to four times higher risk of developing allergies. This is due to the protective role of the skin. The specialist explains that atopic dermatitis is seen as a warning sign, part of the so-called 'atopic march,' a sequence that can progress from eczema to food allergies and subsequently to rhinitis and asthma.
Another crucial point addressed by the study is the timing of food introduction. It was found that offering peanuts only after 12 months of age more than doubles the chance of the child developing a food allergy. This data corroborates recent pediatric guidelines, which discourage delaying potentially allergenic foods as a preventive measure.
Renata Cocco advises that exclusive breastfeeding should be maintained until six months, starting gradual food introduction from this period, including all food groups, such as egg, fish, and peanuts, according to child development and under pediatric guidance. The study also established a connection between antibiotic use, especially in the first month of life, and an elevated risk of food allergies. The most plausible hypothesis for this lies in the effect of these medications on the microbiome, the collection of microorganisms essential for the development and strengthening of the child's immune system.
Additionally, genetic predisposition is a relevant factor, as children whose parents or siblings are allergic have a higher probability of developing the condition. However, the doctor emphasizes that the genetic component is not the sole cause, but rather the combination of genetics and environmental factors that seems to favor the development of allergies.
The work also correlated food allergies with low birth weight, post-term birth, partial breastfeeding, maternal diet during pregnancy, and gestational stress. However, the specialist advises caution in interpreting these results, mentioning important methodological limitations related to stress and nutrition during pregnancy. She concludes by stating that there is already more solid evidence that restricting allergenic foods during pregnancy does not prevent the emergence of allergies in the child.
Claims are often circulated on social media that consuming water from plastic bottles can lead to cancer, causing concern among many people. This raises the question of whether ordinary plastic bottles pose a health threat and if this is dangerous.
There is an opinion that if a plastic bottle is exposed to heat for a long time, the probability of releasing the chemical substance BPA increases. Furthermore, microplastics have become a subject of concern in recent years because they have been found in many human organs and in blood. Since these tiny plastic particles can enter water, there is a risk of them entering the body, given that BPA is considered a carcinogen.
To find out the experts' views, the publication spoke with Dr. Rohit Kapoor from the Oncology Department of Max Medical Center in Ghaziabad. Dr. Rohit notes that most studies conducted so far have been based on laboratory and animal models. Although some effects of these chemicals and microplastics have been observed in these studies, a direct proof of the link between drinking water from a plastic bottle and the development of cancer in humans has not yet been established, so further scientific research is necessary.
Nevertheless, Dr. Rohit advises trying to avoid drinking from plastic bottles. If the use of plastic is unavoidable, several precautions should be taken. It is necessary not to leave plastic bottles in direct sunlight or in hot cars. Bottles that are cracked, discolored, or old should not be reused. Ideally, glass or stainless steel bottles should be chosen for drinking.
Dr. Rohit emphasizes that research on microplastics and related chemicals is ongoing, but remaining vigilant remains extremely important. Therefore, if one must drink water from a plastic bottle out of necessity, it should not be used more than once or twice.
According to health officials, the fifth person has died from legionellosis in connection with the ongoing outbreak of the disease in the Upper East Side area of the city.
The New York City Department of Health reported that at least 82 cases of the disease have been identified, and eight people were hospitalized as of Tuesday. Fifty-six patients have been discharged from hospitals since the start of the outbreak.
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium that actively develops in warm, stagnant water. Health specialists have focused their efforts on inspecting cooling towers, which are part of the air conditioning systems of large buildings. Property owners were ordered to drain and disinfect those cooling towers that tested positive.
As of Tuesday, health authorities stated that 34 cooling towers in 33 buildings containing the live bacteria have been cleaned and disinfected. Nine cooling towers tested negative, and results from the remaining 140 cooling towers are expected within the next week.
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, legionellosis is treatable, but about 10 percent of patients die due to complications. This outbreak occurred less than a year after another case in the Harlem area of New York, which affected over 100 people and claimed seven lives.
