Can dust mites halt the allergy epidemic?

Doctors in the UK are conducting an interesting study in which they will expose babies under the age of one year to dust mites while their immune systems are developing. It is believed this will prevent them developing allergies in the future.

A total of 120 babies aged five to nine months with a family history of allergy will take part in the project, which is being conducted at the respiratory biomedical research unit at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.

The incidence of allergy is increasing in many countries and although it is still not known why more people are developing allergies, family history has been shown to be a strong risk factor. The theory behind the current study is that giving babies a common allergen when their immune systems are working out what is and isn’t harmful will teach their bodies to accept it and not become susceptible as they grow older.

The research team are currently recruiting participants to the study. More information can be found on the University Hospital Southampton website.