I've been doing a lot of research since I found this site (like I'm sure a lot of you are!) Going to the fan website ([url]http://www.foodallergy.com[/url]), I read this "disorder" is genetic. I'm just curious, since one thread in particular where everyone tells us about their children sounds like most people are Caucasian. Is this "disorder" more prone to this ethnicity or is it prevalent in all ethnicities? Any input is appreciated. Thanks. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
The Newbie with never ending questions! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Connie
![http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]](http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]){kind=link}
I have thought the exact same thing but didn't know how to word the question. You always hear of certain diseases or illnesses being more common in a certain race, or gender, or age group. Good question. . .interesting to see the results. Deanna
By the way, our family is Caucasian.
I've often thought about this as well - this doesn't speak to ethnicity, but we went to a food allergy support group picnic recently and my husband made the comment, "It looks like peanut allergy is carried on the 'petite mom' gene". And he's right - 95% of the moms there were short and small-framed.
Another thing I've noticed is a lot of p.a. kids and/or their parents have fair skin, and many are redheads, myself included.
Anyone else made similar observations?
In my opinion, from reading different websites, visible minorities with allergies are underrepresented.
Often, asthma and allergies go hand in hand, and more blacks than whites suffer from asthma (please forgive me if 'black' and 'white' are not politically correct anymore!). There is a link here to the asthma info: [url="http://www.aafa.org/asthmaandallergyinformation/aboutasthmaandallergies/factsandfigures/asthma_facts.cfm"]www.aafa.org/asthmaandallergyinformation/aboutasthmaandallergies/factsandfigures/asthma_facts.cfm[/url]
Also, anaphylaxis to rice is much more common in a country like China, where rice intake is high. Here in North America, rice is considered almost hypoallergenic, it is the first food we give to our babies.
I think allergies are prevalent everywhere, in every race, but what we are allergic to depends on what we are exposed to. 95% of Canadian households have peanut butter in the pantry, similar numbers exist in the U.S.
There is actually research underway to figure out how to better represent visible minorities with life-threatening allergies and asthma, because the number of people who die from asthma is higher among this group.
As was mentioned in the above posts, I am strawberry blonde, very fair skin (what's a tan?) and petite (5'4"), so we have that in common anyway! We must have some common European ancestor, who managed to pass along all his allergenic genes! Take care, Carolyn
[This message has been edited by Cayley's Mom (edited November 02, 2000).]
This kind of information is very valuable to researchers, or at least should be. (I'm new and haven't run across this)
Just a guess, but with so many redheads there must be some Irish here?
I'm Heinz 57, Irish, Italian, Scottish and English, this is just what I know! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Oh, and 5.5" inches tall, brown hair (with natural red highlights, I had blonde hair when I was a youngen! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] )
I'm interested to know what everyone else is. Moms, Dads and Kids (Since it is genetic) Kind of an informal survey? Please enlighten us. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
the lack of access to the internet by minorities makes whatever observations done here totally moot as far as any kind of statistical study on the genetic tendencies of this allergy.
as was pointed out, asthmatic and allergy suffering minorities are vastly underreported and undertreated. Statistically speaking many more African Americans die from asthma and asthma related diseases than white Americans due to the incredible disparity of economics, health care, education, etc.
The Chicago Tribune this weekend had a front page article a/b the boom in asthma and related illnesses, including allergies, in the West, presumably caused by our underutilized immune systems which have to fight something, so if there are no germs or diseases to fight off, they go berserk over dust mites or peanuts instead. Third World people have a much lower incidence of asthma and allergies. Even in this country, children who were in fulltime daycare before age 6 mos. have a much lower incidence of asthma and allergies (including food allergies) than babies cared for at home. We're supposed to stop already with the antibacterial soap, the floors clean enough to eat off, etc., and let our kids eat "a bushel of dirt" (according to this article) by the time they start school.
Well, I'm a Caucasian, Heinz 57, of European descent. I'm 5'7", brunette (though blonde as a child), blue eyes, medium skin. Hardly the "petite mom" syndrome here!! However, my husband's side of the family is petite. His mom is not quite 5 feet tall and my husband is only 5'6". His family is of South American descent with some European mixed in. My daughter picked up all the dominant genes (dark brown hair, very dark brown eyes) and she has NO allergies. My son picked up all the recessives. He is blond, blue eyed and allergic to everything.
Both my husband and I have some type of allergies on both sides of the family.
Christine
Well I have fair skin, red hair and am only 5'5. However my neighbor and the little boy at my daughter's school with this allergy are both tall and black. Go figure!
Linda
I, too, have wondered about this. My confirmed PA son is built big, but he is very fair skinned with strawberry blonde hair (depending on how the light hits it), and light blue eyes. My not-yet-known-if-PA son is darker complected, but still fair, with very light brown hair that has the prettiest platinum blonde highlights, and light blue eyes. I'm 5'5" with darkening hair (used to be very blonde), fair skinned, and blue eyes. My husband and I both have allergies: mine are to medicines, and his are environmental.
mom2two --
You've got a good point, although, I've heard that the computer market and Internet is growing more rapidly for poor families than middle class now. (Computer manufacturers are offering Free or barely Free pc's w/Internet access etc...) It still may be too early to get an accurate survey, but it never hurts to keep your mind and options open, and nonetheless the accuracy of surveys can always be argued. I'm just reporting my observations, as well as what I understand. In my opinion, I'll never get enough information about this, until there's a cure which I'm sure we can all agree on this. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Sandra Y - That's a really interesting article, Thank You. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
p.s.
Genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia are found mainly in African Americans, whereas Thalssemia also a blood disorder has 2 forms, Alpha Thalssemia - found mostly in Asians or Beta Thalssemia - found mostly in Mediteranean (Greek etc....) Since these Allergies are classified as a genetic disorder, there's generally a "Group" that's classified with it. Hispanics - diabetes. There will always be straying from the "Group" afflicted, but there's definately proof that genes are passed on and "groups" who share many similarities. Or Allergies could be environmental, as Sandra Y's article (bodies have no germs to fight) and Cayley's Mom (China and rice) suggested or it could be all of the above or none of the above. My understanding is that there isn't an understanding.
I know there's many of you out there who are also interested, or have information on surveys "they've" done, so please give us your input. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
[This message has been edited by ScaredoftheWalnutAisles (edited November 02, 2000).]
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